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North Carolina Gas Chambers
Links
Below are links to all major humane organizations in the United States. All of these organizations advocate IV injection of sodium pentobarbitol as the preferred method of euthanizing unwanted animals.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
Euthanasia Statement for Dogs and Cats www.hsus2.org/sheltering/library/euthanasia_statement.html The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recommends the injection of sodium pentobarbital, prepared specifically for use as a euthanasia product, as the preferred agent for the euthanasia of companion animals. This method, when properly performed, has been found to be the most humane, safest, least stressful, and most professional choice by The HSUS, The American Humane Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The many limitations of CO make the method less practical, considerably slower, and more expensive than lethal injection. Animals under four months of age have shown a resistance to hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). It is absolutely unacceptable to use CO for the euthanasia of dogs and cats who are old, under four months of age, sick, or injured. Because of these limitations, there must always be an acceptable backup method readily available.
CO is a hazardous substance considered especially dangerous because it is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and explosive.
Repeated exposure to CO, even at low levels, can result in many serious long-term effects including (but not limited to) cancer, infertility, and heart disease. CO chambers must therefore be used with extreme caution, and proper guidelines must be in place to ensure both a humane death for the animals and safety to personnel.
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AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia http://avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf Recommendations: ”The advantages of using barbiturates for euthanasia in small animals far outweigh the disadvantages. Intravenous injection of a barbituric acid derivative is the preferred method for euthanasia of dogs, cats, other small animals, and horses. Intraperitoneal injection may be used in situations when an intravenous injection would be distressful or even dangerous. Intracardiac injection must only be used if the animal is heavily sedated, unconscious, or anesthetized."
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AMERICAN HUMANE
Policy on Euthanasia
www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wh_where_stand_apsps_ebi_cats_dogs American Humane considers euthanasia by injection of sodium pentobarbital (EBI) to be the only acceptable method for euthanasia of dogs and cats in animal shelters.
ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE
Euthanasia and the Animal Shelter
www.api4animals.org/1039.htm The euthanasia method of choice for use in animal shelters is the injection of an overdose of a barbiturate anesthetic called sodium pentobarbital. In API's view, it is the only acceptable method of euthanizing shelter animals. When injected into a vein, this drug produces rapid unconsciousness and death without the pain and distress that accompany all other methods.
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NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION
Policy on Euthanasia
www.nacanet.org/euth.html
NACA considers lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital, administered by competent, trained personnel, to be the method of choice utilized for humane euthanasia of animal shelter dogs and cats. |
ASPCA
The ASPCA is dedicated to responsible care and humane treatment for all animals. We would like to see the United States become a country where no adoptable pet is euthanized, and, although we know this will take many years, we believe it is an obtainable objective. No adoptable pets are euthanized at The ASPCA’s adoption center in New York City.
Unfortunately, in many areas of the country there are currently more pets than there are homes. The ASPCA believes these animals deserve a dignified, painless death rather than suffering such cruelties as malnutrition, disease, trauma, or emotional breakdown that are commonly associated with an unwanted and/or uncared-for existence. Euthanasia requires a great deal of expertise and should be performed only by skilled professionals. Euthanasia performed properly causes minimal pain and stress to the animal and is safe for shelter personnel. Euthanasia technicians must be conscientious, caring personnel who are properly trained and certified in administering injectable euthanasia.
The ASPCA recommends the intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital as the preferred agent for euthanasia. This method, when properly performed, has been found to be the most humane, safest, fastest and least stressful. However some counties in North Carolina still use the gas chamber. The chamber is not legally allowed for puppies&kittens, sick, elderly or hurt dogs or cats in the gas chamber. Thankfully, most shelters adhere to this law.
Lanie Anton, ASPCA
National Shelter Outreach Internet Manager
189 Berdan Avenue, #407, Wayne, NJ 07470
Email: outreach@aspca.org
www.aspca.org/shelters
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