WBTV reports that a home in Iredell Co, NC was visited by animal control officers in May:
They found 23 cats and the house was clean. Months later conditions got bad.
How bad? Supposedly there were 198 cats and 3 dogs at the home yesterday when AC came with a warrant and seized all the pets. WBTV states 15 will be killed. Cruelty charges are pending against the owner.
Chris Royal, director of the Iredell County pound says some of the cats have ringworm. And although she runs a gassing facility which killed 87% of the 3153 cats it received last year, she uses this media opportunity to chide the public regarding neutering:
“This just goes to show you,” Royal said. “If they would have their cat spayed or neutered, they would not have had the problem they have – 198, that is a lot of animals.”
Would neutering keep them out of your gas chamber? I didn’t think so.
WSOC is reporting different numbers. When AC visited in spring, they found “30 – 40 cats” and clean conditions. WSOC also says 50 cats are sick and will be killed. But they have the same total figures.
Whatever the exact numbers were a few months ago, it’s a staggering increase to get to 198 today and not explainable solely by a failure to neuter. Neither report includes images from conditions inside the home and the cats pictured at the pound appear to be in good health. I don’t know if the 15 (or 50) cats “have to” get stuffed into the gas chamber for ringworm or if there has been some other eyeball diagnosis by a layman that they are using as an excuse for killing instead of treatment. But the director says they don’t have room for the cats and given her track record on killing, I fear for the non-ringworm cats. Assuming the pound does no better and no worse than they did with their cats in 2011, that would mean at least 87% (probably more since RTO is not an option for any of them) will be killed.
Could the owner have been offered assistance with spay-neuter, education, and placement of some of the cats, allowing her to keep a smaller number which AC could monitor in future? Seizing these cats is kinder to them than leaving them where they were – how exactly? If even one of the healthy/treatable cats goes into the gas chamber at the pound, I call this entire operation an epic fail.
(Thank you Lisa for alerting me to this story.)
Gas Chambers We Love, by HSUS
July 9, 2012
The Davidson Co pound in NC sells dogs for $95 and cats for $75. But they don’t sell any dog they deem a Pitbull or a Pitbull mix. And they don’t sell too many other pets either.
In 2010, the pound killed 88% of its pets. Statistics haven’t been released yet for 2011 but supposedly the pound is killing less animals now than in past. Still, this unknown-kill-rate-that-is-supposedly-less-than-88-freaking-percent represents thousands of animals being stuffed into the gas chamber each year at the Davidson Co pound, often illegally and sometimes sadistically.
Who would LOVE this “shelter”? Why HSUS, natch:
The Davidson County Animal Shelter in Lexington has received an award from the Humane Society of the United States and the N.C. Voters for Animal Welfare[.]
The shelter was one of four in North Carolina to receive a “Shelter We Love” award from the two groups in a ceremony in front the Legislative Building in Raleigh on June 13.
Awwww, it’s wuuuuuuuuuv!
Animal advocates tried to get the county to shut down the gas chamber last year but the commissioners couldn’t be bothered to vote on the issue so the gassing has continued.
[Caleb] Scott, of the N.C. Voters for Animal Welfare, which lobbies state legislators on behalf of animals, said his group gave the Davidson shelter the award because of the positive changes that shelter employees are making.
“We don’t dwell on the negative consequences of the past,” Scott said. “We are focusing on the future.”
And to be clear, the future (and present) for animals at the Davidson Co pound is death by gas chamber. Lots of it. And no hope for any dog labeled a Pitbull or Pitbull mix. At a “shelter” HSUS loves so much, they gave it an award.
In Thomasville NC, police officers are charged with handling animal control duties on weekends. Last year on Thanksgiving weekend, Thomasville police officer Lee Patton and Cpl. Jeff McCrary responded to a call about an aggressive dog at large. Officer Patton reportedly shot the dog in the face and shoulder after the dog “charged” him. The wounded dog ran away but was later located on a nearby street. Several residents gathered at the scene of the shooting. In order to protect these residents, the officers loaded up the wounded dog, drove him to the Davidson Co Animal Shelter – operated by the Davidson Co sheriff’s office – stuffed him in the gas chamber and flipped the switch.
Several questions arise:
- Was lethal force the only option available to the officers when the loose dog “charged”? Could a catch pole, tranquilizer or non-lethal weapon have been utilized instead?
- After the wounded dog ran away and was found nearby, was he still a threat to the residents who had gathered at the scene of the shooting? Would that threat have been eliminated simply by removing the dog from the scene and bringing him to a vet clinic or shelter for care?
- Did the officers scan the dog for a microchip, examine him for ID tags and tattoos, check lost dog reports, post the dog online or make any effort whatsoever to locate the dog’s owner before gassing him?
- Did the officers complete the appropriate records in conjunction with the dog’s killing? Did they verify death using a method prescribed by state law after the gassing cycle was complete? Did they clean the gas chamber and dispose of the dog’s carcass in accordance with state law?
NC state law dictates that only a “certified euthanasia technician” may kill pets at a shelter and prohibits the gassing of pets who are “near death”. Neither officer in this case is a certified euthanasia technician. It is unknown if the dog was near death at the time of gassing but having been shot in the face and been rendered unable to flee more than a block away, it’s certainly a relevant question to my mind.
Shelley Swaim, a state animal welfare technician and Lee Hunter, a veterinarian and the director of the N.C. Veterinary Division’s animal welfare division, investigated the killing. [Note to readers: Sit down. Hold on to something solid. Remember to breathe.]
[T]he officers didn’t technically violate the code because they are not shelter employees and are not covered by it, Hunter said.
As of a December 27, 2011 letter written by Thomasville Police Chief Jeff Insley, officers are now prohibited from using the gas chamber at the pound. And:
[T]he two officers who euthanized the dog were counseled about using the shelter’s equipment, including its gas chamber.
So there ya go. Honestly, the determination that NC state law doesn’t apply to the actions of these officers at the pound because they are not employed by the pound makes the Chewbacca Defense seem well-reasoned and logical. I fear this finding could be interpreted as an open call to wannabe pet killers to stroll on into any NC pet gassing facility and fulfill their heart’s desire since they too can likely avoid prosecution by claiming they don’t work for the pound. Assuming they can face the “counseling”, of course.
Utah Pound Cat Story: Why Am I Not Happier?
October 15, 2011
The West Valley City Animal Shelter in Utah gasses groups of pets to death. Recently, after gassing a group of cats, the worker who opened the chamber found a black cat named Andrea was still alive. So the worker scooped Andrea up in his arms, showered her with kisses and told her she was a miracle kitty who would be pampered for the rest of her days. Just kidding. He gassed her again. Then he put her in a garbage bag and tossed her in the freezer. Forty-five minutes later, workers went into the freezer unit to add the remains of a dog they’d just killed and heard persistent meowing. They opened up the trash bag containing Andrea and found she was alive. The pound manager called the Community Animal Welfare Society (CAWS) to come get the cat. I don’t know if it was because the manager felt sympathy for Andrea or if she was just frustrated that the cat wouldn’t die. The manager refused to talk to the news station reporting the story.
The TV crew got to meet Andrea, now in the care of CAWS:
“She’s used up three of her nine lives,” laughed Janita Coombs of the Community Animal Welfare Society. “And we hope she doesn’t use up any more!”
Yeah, total ha. A real knee-slapper, that one.
In the video accompanying the online article, the reporter says CAWS may offer Andrea for adoption or might “use her” in their campaign against the gas chamber. Use her. Maybe everything is just rubbing me the wrong way today, I don’t know.
West Valley City’s Animal Shelter manager and other workers declined to comment to FOX 13 on Friday. City spokesman Aaron Crim said they follow the proper procedures and defended the method as being endorsed by the American Veterinary Association.
Those who want to keep gassing pets to death often cite that it is an AVMA approved method of killing (pdf). This is accurate. But it needs to be put into context. The AVMA has become isolated in its support for the gas chamber. The No Kill Advocacy Center (pdf), the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (pdf), the National Animal Control Association, and the American Humane Association have all issued position statements against the use of the gas chamber. In addition, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming all ban gas chambers for killing shelter pets in their states. Other states have similar legislation pending.
“We’ve never had an instance since we used this method. It’s very quick, very humane,” Crim said. “This is an anomaly.”
As pet advocates know, gas chamber survivors may be rare, relative to the number of pets killed, but they do make the news with some regularity (e.g. Lucky, Quentin and Grace). As for the method being consistently quick and humane, apparently the AVMA is the last major animal group clinging to that myth. Much to Mr. Crim’s delight I suppose.
The West Valley City Pound has a website. In addition to protecting the community, they see their job as follows:
It is also our responsibility to care for ourselves. We must be proud of the work that we are doing, recognize our accomplishments and compliment to [sic] each other. Be happy. If you are happy, those around you will be happy too resulting in more effective service to yourself and the citizens of West Valley City and Taylorsville.
Tha hell? Compliment to each other. Also, when the local news shows up: Hide.
Both CAWS and West Valley City agree that the method wouldn’t be necessary if shelters weren’t overrun with stray animals. They encouraged pet owners to take more responsibility by spaying and neutering their animals and keeping them for life.
Man, why can I not like any of these people even one iota? Newsflash: Not everyone can afford spay-neuter and not everyone can keep their pets for life. Life is a fluid situation. Sometimes people need education and/or a helping hand. I checked the CAWS website because I wanted to see what their position was on spay-neuter and because I really want to like them. After all, they took in Andrea when they got the call. They have a page called Spay and Neuter on their site. It’s blank. But on other pages they do have info about TNR for community cats and state they offer some assistance to people in the community who need help getting their pets neutered. So that’s good. I just wish Andrea’s story left me with a better feeling. What do you think?
Police Chief Defends Oklahoma Gassing Facility (Weirdly)
August 23, 2011
There is currently a petition on Change.org aimed at ending the practice of gassing shelter pets to death in Oklahoma. Russell Frantz, chief of the Shawnee police department is among those being petitioned as he oversees the city’s animal control department. This is what Change.org has to say about Shawnee AC:
In one particular shelter in Oklahoma, the Shawnee Animal Control, stray animals are only held for 2 days! And they refuse to allow any pictures posted publicly.
Chief Frantz has been sending out replies to people who sign the petition. The first reply was about no kill, which is not what the petition addresses, but at least we know where Chief Frantz stands on the issue:
Thank you for your concerns. We would love to be a No Kill facility and save every animal but unfortunately we don’t have the funding or resources to do this at this time. Please remember that as you petition the different levels of government that you including funding and resources so that the end goal can be met. Laws and Mandates without funding and resources only make matters worse for communities.
We truly do hate to have to euthanize any animal but it takes funding and resources. How do you propose that we euthanize animals? Would you be willing to volunteer to hold an animal as it gets a lethal injection and have it die in your arms? Puppies have to be euthanized by lethal injection by law. Once again we hate to have to euthanize any animal. Please support your local rescue groups.
We work very closely with three 501 C (3) local rescue organizations to save as many animals as possible.
Please remember to spay and neuter your pets.
Got all that? It’s not good enough to ask that they stop gassing pets. You have to either send them money or volunteer to hold pets while they’re killed. Those are, of course, the only two options available on the planet Earth. Bankroll the facility yourself, participate in the killing or just shut up and let us stuff pets into the gas chamber you annoying taxpayers.
The second reply was in response to the specific issues addressed in the petition:
- The use of a gas chamber, as opposed to the more humane and cost effective injection method for euthanasia.
Response: Here in Shawnee we use a very efficient CO2 chamber that is cheaper than lethal injection. This system the animal simply goes to sleep and then passes away. Lethal injection is more costly to do here than CO2.
- Strays held for only two days.
Response: We often hold animals longer than this but when people realize they only have two days they pick them up quickly and don’t use us as a cheap boarding facility.
- Refusal to post pictures of stray/adoptable animals publicly.
Response: We had to stop doing this because people were fraudulently using these pictures to illegally collect money though internet scams. We are trying to protect people that honestly want to help and not be scammed or defrauded.
Well Chief Frantz, I have some good news. I think I can clear up some of these issues immediately, if not sooner.
Pets in gas chambers do not always drift off on a pink fluffy cloud while dreaming of getting their own Disney movie. I won’t be linking to any of the horribly disturbing material here but if you can use The Google, you can find evidence and eyewitness testimony documenting this. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians is against gassing and The National Animal Control Association condemns it – for good reason. As for cost, take a look at this study which shows gassing to be more expensive than lethal injection.
Newsflash: While you certainly may have some abusers of your “services” in Shawnee, the vast majority of people with measurable cognitive function are not going to use your GASSING POUND as a “cheap boarding facility”. See also: duh.
Finally, are you for real? Nigerian puppy scammers will use your Petfinder photos of mangy mutts to swindle people out of cash so it’s better not to post any pictures online at all?
OK Memphis Animal Services, you know how much I hate your failure to post all your pets online – and Imma let you finish but Shawnee Animal Control has the Lamest Excuse of All Time – Of All Time!!!
37 Dogs Gassed Due to Suspected Skin Mites
March 1, 2011
Ruth Wilder lives in Brown County, Ohio. She has several acres of property and regularly picks up stray dogs in order to care for them:
“They’re like my babies, like my family you know.”
Yes, we do.
In response to a complaint made about the 47 dogs on Ms. Wilder’s property on January 10, the Brown Co dog warden, Andrew Dunn, seized 37 of her dogs on February 10. According to Mr. Dunn, “the condition of the dogs and the property indicated the animals were not properly cared for”. The 10 dogs who were licensed were allowed to stay with the owner:
The remaining 37 were unlicensed and had clear physical illnesses Dunn believed to be mange.
“Some were missing basically all of their hair, and some were very aggressive,” Dunn said.
In part to prevent the large number of ill dogs from contaminating healthy, adoptable animals housed at the shelter, Dunn said the decision was made to euthanize the dogs on the same day they were removed from the Scoffield Road home.
And by “euthanize”, Mr. Dunn means gassed to death in a homemade gas chamber. (Video of the gas chamber here.)
Mr Dunn told a local news reporter that “his decision came down to the fact that he didn’t have space or budget to take care of 37 dogs, and he believed them to possibly be contagious.”
No veterinary diagnosis, no reaching out to the rescue community for assistance, no offer to assist the owner in seeking veterinary care. Depending on the diagnosis and the breeds of dogs involved, it’s possible all 47 could have been dosed with an inexpensive bottle of Ivomec. In any case, possible mange does not render a dog medically hopeless and suffering which is the only scenario where the word “euthanasia” would apply. These 37 dogs were killed. Cruelly and needlessly.
The Ohio SPCA sent a letter to the county commissioners demanding the shelter stop using the homemade gas chamber and requesting copies of shelter records as they believe the dogs were seized without a warrant.
The Brown County Commissioners tell us they thought the dog warden had quit using the gas chamber months ago. They were surprised to find it in use again and say they’ve instructed Andrew Dunn not to use it in the future.
The Ohio SPCA appears to be serious about pursuing the case:
[Ohio SPCA Executive Director Teresa] Landon said the homemade gas box violates state law, and the demand to cease and desist also asserts the device violates sections 955.15 and 959.06 of Ohio Revised Code.
Landon also said the local humane society or other animal shelters could have helped to hold the animals if there was a need to quarantine them from other dogs at the shelter.
I feel for Ms. Wilder, especially when she told a news reporter:
“I’m angry but I’m afraid to say anything,” Wilder said.
I can only imagine how scared she must be that the dog warden might come back for her remaining 10 dogs if she speaks out or takes action to advocate for her dead dogs. I hope the Ohio SPCA is able to get justice for the dogs and, if it’s accurate that the dog warden seized the dogs unlawfully, hopefully the SPCA’s actions will at least give him pause before he attempts to steal and kill anyone else’s pets.
Thank you Clarice and Laura for sending me info on this case.
Shelter Records Confirm Fates of 4 of the Alabama 44
January 15, 2011
From the HSUS statement on the Alabama 44 posted on their website:
It has come to our attention that four of the dogs sent to the Lincoln County shelter were deemed unadoptable and may have been euthanized via the gas chamber method of euthanasia. [...] It is deeply disturbing to us that these dogs may have been euthanized by this method, and we are disappointed and saddened that we were not notified in advance so that we could look for other options for the dogs. [emphasis mine]
Per the Lincoln Co Animal Shelter records on those 4 dogs, they were gassed to death. In reviewing the records below, note that in the state of North Carolina’s report, it was indicated “for any shelter information sheets (disposition records) that did not state that the method of euthanasia was by injection, it meant that the animal had been euthanized by using the CO chamber or, where indicated, had been adopted”. Further, there is no indication on the records that HSUS wanted to be contacted in the event LCAS decided to kill the dogs.
LCAS record for "Buddy", surrendered by HSUS on 12-3-10, killed in the gas chamber on 12-13-10.
LCAS record for "Harry", surrendered by HSUS on 12-3-10, killed in the gas chamber on 12-13-10.
LCAS record for "Murray", surrendered by HSUS on 12-3-10, killed in the gas chamber on 12-13-10.
LCAS record for dog #38805, surrendered by HSUS on 12-3-10, killed in the gas chamber on 12-13-10.
(To view the shelter records for the 4 gassed dogs in Google Docs, click here.)
It is also worth noting that the dogs were kept alive only 10 days at the shelter. This is in no way a reasonable amount of time for any scared, unsocialized dog to learn to trust. Therefore, I don’t consider these dogs to have been hopeless cases where all good faith attempts to help the dogs adjust had been exhausted and they were still deemed a threat to humans. Furthermore, the odds that all 4 of the dogs would have reached the end of their rehabilitation efforts and been deemed hopeless on the same day are ridiculous. Ten days in a kill shelter to a group of adult dogs who have never known life beyond their backyard pack is nothing. Which is apparently the value HSUS and LCAS had assigned them.
But that’s not the value of these dogs to a true humane society – small h, small s. And as such, I’d like to post the photos of the dogs to honor their memory.
Rest in peace Buddy.
Rest in peace Harry.
Rest in peace Murray.
Rest in peace dog #38805. (Name unknown, no photo available.)
Update on the Alabama 44
January 12, 2011
I have a few tidbits of news to share on the Alabama 44.
First I’d like to thank one of my readers, Samantha Laine, for donating her behavioral consultation services to the Humane Society of Etowah Co in AL for the 2 dogs they got from HSUS. The dogs have had some difficulty socializing even though the shelter staff has been giving them special attention. Samantha offered her services so that hopefully the dogs can continue to make progress at the shelter. The better socialized the dogs are, the better for their mental health and the better their chances at being adopted. Thank you to anyone else who has donated or is considering donating services, supplies or cash to the 2 groups (below) who could use some assistance with the AL dogs.
There has been a lot of news about Lincoln Co Animal Services (LCAS) lately. On January 4, the state of NC ordered the shelter to stop using its gas chamber pursuant to the failed inspection on December 17. The Board of Commissioners will reportedly discuss permanent closure and removal of the gas chamber at the January 24 meeting. Per the county manager:
[Interim Animal Services Director Ron] Rombs has taken the necessary steps to comply with the suspension order on the CO chamber. He had discontinued its use on December 17th.
December 17 is the day HSUS asked Charlotte groups to pick up the 6 AL dogs Lincoln had not killed. Various representatives from HSUS have been tooting the Yay Lincoln Co for getting rid of the gas chamber and we’ll even help them pay to haul it away because we’re just that swell! horn online. All comments seem to be cut and pasted from this corporate statement, now on the HSUS site. While I agree it will be welcome news if the Lincoln Co Board votes to dismantle the gas chamber, I would point out that if that happens, 4 dogs that HSUS took from an owner in AL and dropped at LCAS will have the tragic distinction of being among the last of the pets gassed to death there.
Here is the list as it stands today:
Status: Located (22 dogs)
10 dogs at PAWS Atlanta in GA, all remain in quarantine. Donations appreciated!
2 dogs at Humane Society of Etowah Co, AL: Ben and Jeri – both up for adoption. Donations appreciated!
3 dogs at Bliss Animal Haven in Loganville, GA, all available for adoption
3 dogs at New Leash on Life in Wilson Co, TN, 2 already adopted (see a request from one of the adopters here for tips on socialization) and Sassy (D10-496) who is still available for adoption
4 dogs transferred from Lincoln Co Animal Services in NC to Humane Society of Charlotte. Chow Phat is available for adoption. Merry (and her pups, born in foster care) and the other 2 dogs (both males, about 3 years old) will be available for adoption in future.
Status: Dead (6 dogs)
4 dogs at Lincoln Co Animal Services in NC – Per shelter records, 3 were listed as “sick”. They were Murray, Harry and dog #38805. The 4th dog I received no information on via the shelter although Martha Lide, the Assistant Co Manager for Lincoln Co provided this info:
There were 10 dogs from Alabama. Four dogs were sent to the Charlotte Humane Society. Two dogs were sent to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control. Four dogs were euthanized. Of the four dogs that were euthanized, one was determined to be sick and aggressive and three were determined to be aggressive.
2 puppies at Humane Society of Etowah Co in AL – The pups were less than 10 weeks old and came in very sick. Parvo was suspected and both were euthanized. They were the youngest of the group of 44 and the only 2 who appeared to be sick.
10 dogs dropped at the Nashville Humane Association in TN. None listed on their website. On their FAQ page, they state that pets in their care are killed “only if it is necessary due to illness or behavior problems”. At least some of the original 44 dogs reportedly had behavioral problems. I was unable to get any information about the dogs in a phone call. Follow-up attempts to find out the status on these dogs have been fruitless.
2 dogs transferred from Lincoln Co Animal Services to Charlotte-Mecklenburg shelter. Their kill rate is about 65%. Both dogs are listed on Char-Meck’s site – Daisy (ID#A797513) and Markus (A797514) but neither is available for adoption. They are designated on the website as being kenneled in “DDTF” – Dangerous Dogs Task Force. I’m not sure what would qualify them as “dangerous dogs” seeing as they were among the 6 LCAS did not kill for being “aggressive”.
1 puppy escaped from her New Leash on Life foster home in TN and hasn’t been found.
3 dogs remain unaccounted for and I’m still looking for them. HSUS presumably remembers where they dropped them but has declined to say where that was or what the status of the 3 dogs is now.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the 3 unaccounted for dogs or the status of any of the “Unknown” dogs, please share.
UPDATED: Harrison Co Commissioners Defend Dog Pound
December 15, 2010
Do-it-yourself death.
Some of you may have seen news of the recent high profile, celebrity driven rescue of dogs at the Harrison Co Dog Pound in OH. Although animal activists, including the out of state rescuers, attended the County Commissioners meeting last week, they weren’t allowed to speak because they hadn’t put in a request 9 days in advance. The Commissioners suspended the dog warden without pay amid allegations of neglect and filthy conditions at the pound. Although that seems to be merely political posturing:
Commissioners also defended the pound’s condition, saying it is “a dog pound, not an animal shelter.” Commissioner Mike Vinka said that he had inspected the facilities Tuesday accompanied by a veterinarian, and he found the conditions to be acceptable – by legal standards.
If that’s true, it sounds like Ohio’s legal standards for dog pounds need a massive re-write.
I contacted Robin McClelland of the Appalachian OH SPCA who is one of the activists prevented from speaking at last week’s meeting. She says the homemade gas chamber (pictured above) still stands at the Harrison Co pound, even though it’s no longer in use:
[County Commissioner] Mike Vinka would not permit it to be dismantled. Two Words. Robin McClelland. He stated it would make me happy.
Since the County Commissioners are in charge of the dog pound which continues to operate with suffering dogs trapped in its filthy outdoor pens, here’s my question: Does anyone on the commission not hate dogs? If so, could that person (or persons) step up and you know – do some frikkin’ thing? These clowns sound like the worst public servants in the world. Oh you didn’t sign up nine days in advance so you can’t speak to us. We’re leaving our homemade gas box up next to the dog pens just to spite the annoying animal advocates who forced us to shut it down.
Attention Harrison County: Vote these Gong Show contestants out. Surely you don’t want your taxes used to pay the salaries of people who treat you – and your community’s pets – like dirt. And in the meantime, get the pound moved to a clean, indoor location run by people who care about pets.
Thanks Jeanne and Clarice for links on this story.
Added: Robin McClelland got her chance to address the commission today, calling for the pound to be permanently closed. The commission produced this press release:
Less Killing, Tastes Great
December 13, 2010
You might recall the video of Susan Boyer, an employee at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg AC & C shelter, offering her view that killing pets by injection is a “morale booster” for shelter staff vs. killing them via the gas chamber.
Today, I came across a different view from Tommy Morson, the AC director in Tuscumbia, AL. He contends that gassing pets to death is A-OK and “not as painful as the emotional toil it takes on shelter technicians who euthanize the animals by injection”. He goes on to explain:
[W]hen that animal leaves here, it is dead. The shelter technicians have to live with it and it’s tough on them. When they euthanize by injection, the animal dies in their arms. They have bonded with those animals. When they put it in the chamber, it’s out of sight, out of mind. When they go back 30 minutes later, it’s dead.
Out of sight, out of mind. Is that the attitude we want in our public servants paid to care for homeless pets? Heaven forfend they should touch the animals while killing them, because you know, needless killing is “tough on them”. (I imagine it’s no picnic for the friendly pets being killed either.)
Mr. Morson is also president of the Southeast Animal Control Officers Association which covers nine states. I wonder if he, or anyone in his organization, is aware that the National Animal Control Association condemns the use of the gas chamber. Maybe his group has gone rogue, I don’t know.
“The gas chamber is still a legal method of euthanasia and as long as it is, we will use it,” said Morson[.]
Way to stay loyal to The Before Time.
In any case, some might find it interesting to debate whether needless killing of shelter pets by injection is a “morale booster” as Ms. Boyer contends or if needless killing by gassing is as easy as making a baked potato in the microwave – you just push the button, go back in 30 minutes and voila! But it occurs to me that we are overlooking the obvious here: Animal shelters do not need to kill healthy/treatable pets because there are enough homes for all of them.
What if we quit spending our time arguing about which kill method makes for the cheeriest staff and considered how great shelter workers would feel if they didn’t have to needlessly kill any pets? Why not redirect our time and money toward saving lives instead of needlessly ending them? Happy staff, happy shelter pets, happy adopters.
