Method of death topic for heated debate

By Kim Kinnecom, Staff Writer

Thursday, December 14, 2006 — The ongoing debate about animal euthanasia is over the use of a carbon monoxide (CO) gas chamber or lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital.

Both agents are deemed acceptable methods for animal shelters by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) while the American Humane Society (AHA) has adopted a position that euthanasia by injection is the only acceptable method for animal shelters.

Animal Control Department Supervisor Gary Godwin said Animal Control and the shelter are operated under the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, who are currently rewriting rules for the municipal shelters.

Health Department Director Dennis Joyner said the state has developed procedures and recommendations for the shelters but has not made any recommendations about euthanasia, “but whatever they decide will set the standard,” he said.

County Manager Jerry Myers said the quantity of animals euthanized in Stanly County is “fairly typical for a rural county.”

“We’re not the best and we’re not the worst,” he said referring the approximate 3,500 dogs and cats put to death in the county’s CO gas chamber per year, which is entirely funded by the county.

“The job is hard enough on Animal Control officers as it is. The gas chamber is less personal. You don’t have to hold the animal in your arms. It’s a traumatic thing on anyone to watch death and I don’t want the officers to experience more stress,” Meyers said.

Meyers also said it is more cost effective to use the chamber than sodium pentobarbital based on the staffing, time, and cost of each injection.

Cost is also a debate. Many organizations say there is not a substantial difference in cost with either method, if properly administered.

“From a pure humane standpoint the injection would be the best option,” he said, but also asked if society places more importance on animals or human beings. “At some point you have to draw he line. You can’t put an animals’s welfare above that of a human,” he said.

Elaine Richards, Humane Society vice president and executive director hasn’t made up her mind.

“I try not to think about it. There are two distinct opinions. Ideally, injection should be done by a Vet and even then they have different opinions,” she said.

“I haven’t made a clear cut decision about how I feel. I don’t know that there’s really a good decision,” she said.

Richards is more concerned with finding a way to cut back on the number that have to be put down than the method.

Veterinarian Dr. Alan Howard said he didn’t have much of an opinion on the matter, but said he’s always used barbiturates to put the animals down.

Stanly County Animal Rescue League Secretary and Adoption Coordinator Jane Murray wants the animals to be in peace as a fast as possible.

“Ideally I think anybody would prefer euthanasia by injection but at this point CO is the only method available,” she said.

Murray said she’s been assured that the chambers are humane.

“As long as the chamber is properly calibrated it should not be painful for the animal. But the injection is the quickest method, certainly humane and is less stressful because it is so quick.”

Godwin says the entire process is emotional, but as in any job carrying out procedures is just part of the job.

“We’re saddened with the responsibility of it in the end.”

Godwin said his only exposure to euthanasia has been with CO but said “there are pros and cons to both and a use for both. I wouldn’t want to see gas eliminated entirely. I just want to do what’s best.”

Many are concerned with completely restraining an animal in preparation for a injection while others worry about the right amount of CO being administered.

A multitude of pro-injection organizations show pictures of numerous dogs in one chamber and tell tales of dogs surviving the chamber.

Godwin said an animal should never survive the chamber if it is used properly. When performed correctly the process should take about 12 minutes

Sick, injured and pregnant dogs and puppies under four months are not recommended for the chamber, but will be put down by CO when it is the only method available.

“I’ll never take a chance with them, and make sure everything is done properly,” Godwin said emphasizing the difficulty of the job and the responsibility of his department.

Yorkie owner Natasha Suber said if she ever had to choose, “the injection would be best.”

Godwin said when the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division hands down it’s recommendation, he will implement changes as quickly as possible.

Until that time, the CO chamber will continue to be the euthanization mechanism at our municipal shelter while Veterinarians use barbiturates and injections. Association (AVMA) while the American Humane Society (AHA) has adopted a position that euthanasia by injection is the only acceptable method for animal shelters.

Animal Control Department Supervisor Gary Godwin said Animal Control and the shelter are operated under the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division, who are currently rewriting rules for the municipal shelters.

Health Department Director Dennis Joyner said the state has developed procedures and recommendations for the shelters but has not made any recommendations about euthanasia, “but whatever they decide will set the standard,” he said.

County Manager Jerry Myyers said the quantity of animals euthanized in Stanly County is “fairly typical for a rural county.”

“We’re not the best and we’re not the worst,” he said referring the approximate 3,500 dogs and cats put to death in the county’s CO gas chamber per year, which is completely funded by the county.

“The job is hard enough on Animal Control officers as it is. The gas chamber is less personal. You don’t have to hold the animal in your arms. It’s a traumatic thing on anyone to watch death and I don’t want the officers to experience more stress,” Meyers said.

Meyers also said it is more cost effective to use the chamber than sodium pentobarbital based on the staffing, time, and cost of each injection.

“From a pure humane standpoint the injection would be the best option,” he said, but also asked if the society places more importance on animals or human beings. “At some point you have to draw he line. You can’t put an animals’s welfare above that of a human,” he said.

Elaine Richards, Humane Society vice president and executive director hasn’t made up her mind.

“I try not to think about it. There are two distinct opinions. Ideally, injection should be done by a Vet and even then the have different opinions,” she said.

“I haven’t made a clear cut decision. I don’t know that there’s really a good decision,” she said.

Richards is more concerned with finding a way to cut back on the number that have to be put down than the method.

“When you have to make the decision, you just cry your eyes out.”

Veterinarian Dr. Alan Howard said he didn’t have much of an opinion on the matter, but said he’s always used barbiturates to put the animals down.

Stanly County Animal Rescue League Secretary and Adoption Coordinator Jane Murray wants the animals to be in peace as a fast as possible.

“Ideally I think anybody would prefer euthanasia by injection but at this point CO is the only method available,” she said.

Murray said she’s been assured that the chambers are humane.

“As long as the chamber is properly calibrated it should not be painful for the animal. But the injection is the quickest method, certainly humane and is less stressful because it is so quick.”

Godwin says the entire process is emotional, but as in any job carrying out procedures is just part of the job.

“We’re saddened with the responsibility of it in the end.”

Godwin said his only exposure to euthanasia has been with CO but sid “there are pros and cons to both and a use for both. I wouldn’t want to see gas eliminated entirely. I just want to do what’s best.”

Many are concerned with completely restraining an animal in preparation for a injection while others worry about the right dose of CO being administered.

A multitude of pro-injection organizations show pictures of numerous dogs in one chamber and tell tales of dogs surviving the chamber.

Godwin said an animal should never survive the chamber if it is used properly. When performed correctly the process should take about 12 minutes

Sick, injured and pregnant dogs and puppies under four months are not recommended for the chamber.

Yorkie owner Natasha Suber said if she ever had to choose, “the injection would be best.”

Godwin said when the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division hands down it’s recommendation, he will implement changes as quickly as possible.

Until that time, the CO chamber will continue to be the euthanization mechanism at our municipal shelter while Veterinarians use barbiturates and injections.



Kim Kinnecom can be contacted at snaponline24@yahoo.com

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