dissecting cats

shananigansWI · May 2, 2011

It's time schools moved into the 21st century, for heaven's sake, not to mention steamrolling over the ethics of those who see killing animals for academic purposes as unnecessary and are uncomfortable with the idea.

I totally agree! I am going to write my A&P instructors after finals to thank them for being flexible and allowing me to do the course work without participating in non-human dissection. I will also be encouraging them to openly offer alternatives to students in the future and focus more of the labs on the human cadavers. As far as I know I'm the only student in my class that didn't participate in those labs on ethical grounds, but general sentiment around the learning lab was not positive in regards to the cats. I found many other students found it troubling but didn't realize they could or didn't feel empowered to object. I'd like that to change.

purplesteth · May 2, 2011

allowing me to do the course work without participating in non-human dissection

It's great you went to a school with a progressive approach; as you say it's something I know a lot of students are uncomfortable with, but not all of them feel they are in a position to choose.

coffeeaftermidnight · May 3, 2011

Some A&P classes disect fetal pigs and not cats. My A&P professor didn't have us dissect a cat or a pig. We dissected different body parts typically from cows and sheep, but he felt dissecting the cat or pig was a waste of time and a waste of the animal's life, so we just didn't do it. :) Shop around for professors as each one does it a bit differently.

Turd Ferguson · May 3, 2011

We dissected plenty of cats, minks, and frogs in A&P

One time a girl in my lab was cutting into her cat and noticed a large pouch she hadn't seen in any of the other cats- being curious she cut in and 4 unborn kittens oozed out onto the dissection tray.

Her reaction was good for some laughs for the rest of the semester

purplesteth · May 3, 2011

One time a girl in my lab was cutting into her cat and noticed a large pouch she hadn't seen in any of the other cats- being curious she cut in and 4 unborn kittens oozed out onto the dissection tray.
Her reaction was good for some laughs for the rest of the semester

I think it's sad you would find someone's discomfort so amusing. :mad:

shananigansWI · May 3, 2011

I think it's sad you would find someone's discomfort so amusing.

I agree. That's pretty cruel and heartless.

melaniestudent · May 30, 2011

I have dissected many human cadavers, my old job before nursing school was to recover bones/tissues/organs for donation. I have no problem doing those because they served a purpose and was giving a gift to another person. I love cats though and I don't want to do the dissections. Having dissected so many humans, I am hoping they will allow me to skip those labs. I hate seeing people being so childish about this. Want to make jokes about other people not wanting to dissect cats? not the thread for you. Respect should be shown not only to the human and animal cadavers, but also to your fellow students.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 30, 2011

I have dissected many human cadavers, my old job before nursing school was to recover bones/tissues/organs for donation. I have no problem doing those because they served a purpose and was giving a gift to another person. I love cats though and I don't want to do the dissections. Having dissected so many humans, I am hoping they will allow me to skip those labs. I hate seeing people being so childish about this. Want to make jokes about other people not wanting to dissect cats? not the thread for you. Respect should be shown not only to the human and animal cadavers, but also to your fellow students.

Thank you for your post, Melanie, and welcome to AllNurses.com:nurse:

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

We had to dissect cats. I hated it. I wish we could have done people instead. I never will understand the point of a cat. I am not going to be a Vet.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 30, 2011

We dissected plenty of cats, minks, and frogs in A&P
One time a girl in my lab was cutting into her cat and noticed a large pouch she hadn't seen in any of the other cats- being curious she cut in and 4 unborn kittens oozed out onto the dissection tray.
Her reaction was good for some laughs for the rest of the semester

There are many heart-felt, sensitive and well written posts by caring people who advocate for animal rights. They are very passionate about it. The OP was asking us for help on how to get through the possibility of having to dissect a cat.

Your post was not the least bit helpful OR funny, if that was your goal. Why post something which does NOTHING but stir up negative feelings and resentment on this board?

I enjoy reading a lot of your other posts, and I usually get a kick out of them.. This one, though, for me, was over the top.

Peace,

Diane

Hibbzem17 · May 30, 2011

I went to school for Veterinary before I wanted to take up nursing.

EVERYONE IN MY CLASS LOVES CATS. Or they woudlnt want to become vets.

Of course its shocking, but get over it because you will see a lot more disturbing and grotesque things in the real world.

Good luck! :twocents: