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Animal Shelter Euthanasia Fact Sheet
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Stop Gassing!American Humane believes that euthanizing shelter animals by carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide is inhumane to the animal and harmful to humans. American Humane considers euthanasia by injection (EBI) to be the only acceptable and humane means of euthanasia for all shelter animals.
Most shelter workers wish to hold and comfort a frightened animal in its final moments of life. That act may be the only kindness the animal has ever known. In contrast, even with vigilant oversight, euthanizing any animal by means of a carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide gas chamber is inhumane to all animals, especially medium and large dogs, and is demoralizing to the shelter workers. Such outdated and cruel practices also create a public outcry and demean the very purpose of an animal shelter. Download American Humane’s fact sheet comparing the gas chamber to EBI.
It is a national tragedy that 3 to 4 million shelter animals must be euthanized every year. Until a solution is reached, the final moments for these animals must be humane. That’s why American Humane is a leader in training animal welfare professionals on proper EBI techniques. Banning Gas Chambers: A Fight You Can Help Us WinCurrently, only nine states have officially banned all forms of gassing for all types of animals in shelters: Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming. Starting in 2009, American Humane launched an intensive legislative initiative to ban gas chambers in animal shelters and will continue in this work until the gassing ends. To help our efforts, American Humane recently commissioned a study comparing the cost of EBI and gas chambers that proves EBI is less costly to communities. Using data from an animal sheltering organization, the study shows that the cost to use carbon monoxide poisoning is $4.98 per animal. The cost to use EBI, however, is only $2.29 per animal. Download a copy of the EBI cost study. What Can You Do?If you live in a state that still allows gas chamber euthanasia, you can do the following:
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Status of EBI LegislationGeorgia: HB 788 will prohibit gassing shelter dogs and cats in Georgia. With less than 3 hours left in the legislative session, on April 29, the Georgia Senate voted 37-8 to approve a House amendment to H.B. 788 that moved the effective date of the law from January 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2011! HB 788 was signed into law on June 4, 2010. Read the bill. Illinois: Gas chamber ban for euthanasia of all shelter animals signed into law on August 28, 2009 Louisiana: Success! Senate Bill 73 to ban the gas chamber for euthanasia of shelter cats and dogs (and to prohibit intracardiac injection if performed on a conscious animal) officially passed the Senate and House on June 16 and was signed into law as Act No. 764 on June 30, 2010. Passage of this bill will finally ensure a humane death for Louisiana shelter animals that require euthanasia. Even more promising, the bill’s effective date was amended from Jan. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2013. Michigan: House Bills 6042 and 6043 to ban the gas chamber for euthanasia of shelter cats and dogs are still pending in House Agriculture Committee. Sign our endorsement form and download our Michigan-specific factsheet. UPDATE: Michigan's EBI bills were heard in the House Committee on Agriculture on April 28, 2010. National euthanasia expert and American Humane euthanasia consultant Doug Fakkema and Dr. Wendy Swift, DVM, from Humane Society of Kent County, both testified on behalf of American Humane at the hearing. We are so grateful for all the support provided by advocates at the hearing. The bills are being held for a vote in the House Committee on Agriculture on Thursday, July 1, 2010. On July 1, 2010, HB 6042 and 6043 passed the House Committee on Agriculture. In order to prevent opposition, the committee voted to pass the gas chamber bill with two amendments: one that states the bill does not affect farm animals and another that specifies a Jan. 1, 2012, effective date. The bills are now headed to the House floor for a vote. Please stay tuned for more updates and please ask your representative to support these bills. New Mexico: Gas chamber ban and for euthanasia of shelter cats and dogs signed into law on April 6, 2009; Bill allowing technicians to administer euthanasia drugs signed into law on April 6, 2009. New York: Gas chamber ban for euthanasia of all shelter animals signed into law on October 9, 2009 North Carolina: Success! House Bill 1741, sponsored by Rep. Deborah K. Ross, passed the legislature on July 7, 2010 and is now on the governor’s desk for signature. This bill would allow certified animal shelters and shelter technicians to directly obtain and administer drugs necessary for humane euthanasia by injection. Without such a law, known as “direct licensing” or “direct access”, it is more difficult for shelters to perform euthanasia by injection as soon as it is necessary to alleviate the pain and suffering of a shelter animal. A Gas chamber ban bill, Davie’s Law, was introduced in 2009 and is anticipated to refile in 2011. Pennsylvania: Senate Bill 672 to ban the gas chamber for euthanasia of shelter animals is still pending in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The bill would also fine any person or organization that violates the provision with a maximum of $500 for the first violation, and a maximum of $1,000 for subsequent violations. Despite the fact that it is rarely employed, American Humane would like to see carbon dioxide added to SB 672’s prohibited euthanasia methods. However, the passage of this bill as is and the transition to EBI would finally ensure a humane death for shelter animals that require euthanasia. Please ask your senator to support SB 672. Utah Fails to Introduce a Humane Alternative to the Gas Chamber: On 3/11/10, the Utah Senate rejected HB 185, sponsored by Rep. F. Jay Seegmiller, which would have outlawed methods such as drowning in favor of either EBI or carbon-monoxide gassing within a chamber. Shelter Successes! Thank you to the Dillingham Animal Shelter in Alaska for starting EBI training and transitioning to EBI! Thank you to the Yadkin County Humane Shelter in North Carolina for ending the use of the gas chamber for cats and dogs in July 2010, and thank you to Yadkin County Commissioners for voting 4-0 on July 19, 2010 to make this happen! Thank you to the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter in Idaho for ending the use of the gas chamber in March 2010! Great work Midland, MI in voting to ban carbon monoxide euthanasia at the Midland County Animal Control. Thank you Commissioner Mark Bone for making this happen! Thank you Taylor Animal Shelter in Taylor, TX for ending the use of carbon monoxide in March 2010. Great work Chowan/ Gates/ Perquimans counties in North Carolina for ending the use of the gas chamber in January 2010! Thank you New Hanover County, NC for stopping the gassing of animals as of December 2009! Bladen County, NC stopped gassing animals as of November 2009! |
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