This is a complex question with many variables. I'm going to try to answer it as completely as possible, so it could be a little long winded at times. I plan on trying to name the steps in such a way that you can jump to the answer that best suits your situation without having to sift through extraneous information.
I'm going to attempt to cover domestic and wild animals as well as present lethal, non-lethal and preventative alternatives for dealing with them. This is by no means a definative or exhaustive list, these are just the methods that I've used or heard about being used sucessfully. I make no guarentees as to their efficacy in your specfic situation.
That being said let the lecture begin...
I'm going to attempt to cover domestic and wild animals as well as present lethal, non-lethal and preventative alternatives for dealing with them. This is by no means a definative or exhaustive list, these are just the methods that I've used or heard about being used sucessfully. I make no guarentees as to their efficacy in your specfic situation.
That being said let the lecture begin...
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Signing UpStep 1: Domestic Animals
When I say domestic animals I'm referring to dogs, cats and other pets. I'm going to make the assumption that no one is looking to kill a pet. If you are looking to kill your pet or someone else's (aside from valid medical reasons for euthanasia) I really don't want to associate with you. Before you do that, I strongly encourage you to investigate these options.
The best way to get rid of a pet you don't want is to take it to your local animal shelter. There are many non-profit groups that run shelters for animals you can no longer care for. By simply opening the phone book or doing an internet search you can easily find one. They don't charge to take the pet and are usually very sympathetic. Some are "no-kill" shelters, meaning they won't euthanize the pet if it isn't adopted within a certain period of time.
If you have a pure-bred dog or cat variety another option is breed specfic rescues. These are groups that focus on one breed of cat or dog. If there is a breed there is a rescue for it. These groups will take the animals, and work to find them good homes. My wife and I work with a greyhound rescue and find it to be very rewarding. (Check out the Grey Hound Connection to find a group near you.)
I don't know much about large animals (e.g. horses) but I'm assuming rescues that deal with them exist as well. I'm sure a little research can turn one up. My brother had the good idea of checking with 4-H or Future Farmers of America for large animal rescues in your area.
Like most things in life prevention is the best way to avoid the problem. In order to avoid having to make a painful choice like this there are a couple of things you can do:
1) Don't impulse buy. I'm guilty of it myself. The damn creature is just so cute you buy it without thinking or researching. This is how you end up with an animal that isn't right for you or your lifestyle. Also be sure to look at your finances ahead of time. To properly care for a pet is costly. I heard somewhere that for each pet you have your annual expenses increase by $1000 (U.S.). So you need to decide if you can afford another mouth to feed, vaccinate, and provide vet care for before you buy.
2) Have your pet sterilized. Dogs and cats give birth to multiple offspring at a time. Multiply that by the above figure and ask yourself if it is really too much trouble to have your pets spayed or neutered. It also relieves you of having to make the painful choice of which adorable fluff-ball to give to the shelter. And many shelters will spay or neuter pets at reduced rates.
The best way to get rid of a pet you don't want is to take it to your local animal shelter. There are many non-profit groups that run shelters for animals you can no longer care for. By simply opening the phone book or doing an internet search you can easily find one. They don't charge to take the pet and are usually very sympathetic. Some are "no-kill" shelters, meaning they won't euthanize the pet if it isn't adopted within a certain period of time.
If you have a pure-bred dog or cat variety another option is breed specfic rescues. These are groups that focus on one breed of cat or dog. If there is a breed there is a rescue for it. These groups will take the animals, and work to find them good homes. My wife and I work with a greyhound rescue and find it to be very rewarding. (Check out the Grey Hound Connection to find a group near you.)
I don't know much about large animals (e.g. horses) but I'm assuming rescues that deal with them exist as well. I'm sure a little research can turn one up. My brother had the good idea of checking with 4-H or Future Farmers of America for large animal rescues in your area.
Like most things in life prevention is the best way to avoid the problem. In order to avoid having to make a painful choice like this there are a couple of things you can do:
1) Don't impulse buy. I'm guilty of it myself. The damn creature is just so cute you buy it without thinking or researching. This is how you end up with an animal that isn't right for you or your lifestyle. Also be sure to look at your finances ahead of time. To properly care for a pet is costly. I heard somewhere that for each pet you have your annual expenses increase by $1000 (U.S.). So you need to decide if you can afford another mouth to feed, vaccinate, and provide vet care for before you buy.
2) Have your pet sterilized. Dogs and cats give birth to multiple offspring at a time. Multiply that by the above figure and ask yourself if it is really too much trouble to have your pets spayed or neutered. It also relieves you of having to make the painful choice of which adorable fluff-ball to give to the shelter. And many shelters will spay or neuter pets at reduced rates.
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I would have to say I not 100% with you on the poison as you don't know where it can die unless you put the poison in a cage trap thing but that is so much work, especially with my room mate. "who loves to leave food out for these things" But i do feel a warm fussy feeling when i see a mouse that is dead.
* not saying I killed him. Its a mystery.
cops havn't even found the body yet.
hehehehehe!
Poison does not work instantly, so poisoned animals can travel quite far before they die and you can never be sure that you have found all of the corpses. (Sometimes they can even end up stuck inside of walls. Imagine one rotting in the wall behind your favorite chair.)
Unless you are able to find ALL of the corpses and dispose of them properly, poison always ends up getting ingested by secondary animals. ALWAYS.
Nature is full of opportunistic animals, large and small, that will scavenge a dead rodent or bird. Foxes are one of the common animals that fall prey to secondary poisoning, not to mention your own cat or dog. Eagles, hawks, and owls also die frequently from eating poisoned prey.
Traps are much safer. If you feel you have to kill the pests, do so after you have trapped them, and be humane about it. You can also use lethal traps that will do the job for you.
Poison is never the right answer.
Even our supposed wildlife experts have made this mistake. I wonder if they learned their lesson:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=bald-eagles-succumb-to-poison-in-ra-2009-07-01
Nice instructable, some of the pictures are not yours though.
Yep. I freely admit I ripped off some pictures, but figured since it was free advertising they wouldn't mind.
And in the year 3012, archeologists will ponder and great debates will be had as to why the ancient civilizations poured black pepper on their sacrificial animals . . . LOL!
Often aquarium specialty shops can sell your unwanted fish for a nice profit (except for foot+ long Hypostomus plecostomus, there is very little call for those, and a whole lot of them out there!) But large healthy cichlids, koi etc. can be quite valuable and they'll gladly take them off your hands.
craigslist would be another viable option, just as long as you make it clear you are re-homing your pet, not selling it. craigslist can be rather particular about that little detail.