“Good death” is the Greek root of the word euthanasia, the practice of intentionally ending a life.
The objective of this personal project was to organize a massive quantity of data in a way that impacts people and compels them to ponder their everyday decisions or reframe their thinking. I was shocked to hear the statistic that 19,710 individual dogs and cats that were euthanatized in Los Angeles animal shelters in one year. Pit bulls and pit bull mixes comprised 55% of the total dogs euthanatized, while neonatal kittens comprised 15% of the cats euthanatized. These facts became the basis for extensive research into the subject, and ultimately resulted in the creation of this book.
“19,710 individual dogs & cats were euthanatized in Los Angeles animal shelters in 1 year.”
An infographic of sorts, this book contains the personal details for each of the 19,710 individual dogs and cats that were euthanatized beside the signature of the person who authorized the procedure. The disquieting data is presented in a clinical, dispassionate way, contrasting the lasting emotional impression imparted by the book's sheer heft (it weighs nearly 10 pounds!).
The first section of the book includes different euphemisms for euthanasia, the agents used, the process, and the most common reasons why owners decide to surrender their pets. The thick middle section is pink, the color of the lethal agent that is administered via injection to end a pet’s life. Each page contains the personally identifiable information for the 54 pets euthanatized that day. This information is logged by hand by the person responsible for the procedure, accumulating in a massive record of the procedures undertaken in one year. The final section proposes a solution to the dilemma by encouraging readers to adopt these pets, citing the myriad health benefits of interacting with and owning dogs and cats.
The chemical solution consists of mostly pentobarbital, a quick-acting barbituate. The solution is typically pink in color and may be slightly thick. The weighty pink section of the book is the embodiment of euthanasia.
Personally identifiable information for the 54 animals euthanatized in one day is written by hand on each page.
A real dog tag, purchased at Petsmart, displays the book title.
I meticulously crafted the book myself, including the layout, printing and binding by hand.