Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
In 2007, with 85 of 104 North Carolina animal shelters reporting, 218,350 unwanted cats and dogs were killed in carbon monoxide gas chambers or by lethal injection.
That’s the latest euthanasia statistic on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Epidemiology Section, Web site.
Based on an average of all the shelters reporting, the actual number could be closer to 250,000.
The debate over which method of euthanasia is the most humane has been going on for years.
This year in the N.C. General Assembly, legislation is being considered that would require all animal shelters to euthanize by lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital or an alternate oral version of the drug. Another bill would restrict the use of carbon monoxide gas chambers.
New euthanasia rules by the N.C. Department of Agriculture that go into effect later this year will require shelters with gas chambers to use lethal injection on kittens, puppies and injured or sick animals.
A series of Salisbury Post stories beginning today ó and continuing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday ó will describe the carbon monoxide gas chamber and lethal injection; relate opinions of Animal Control officials and veterinarians and review the proposed legislation and new rules. The last article will address the problem of cat and dog overpopulation.
First, here’s a look at how Rowan County euthanizes unwanted animals, with gas. – – –
The brown dachshund, bones protruding from malnourishment, cowers at the back of a kennel inside the Rowan County Animal Shelter.
Animal Control Supervisor Clai Martin says the young male dog was picked up as a stray and has been aggressive since arriving at the shelter on Julian Road. He is not a candidate for adoption.
The dachshund has been at the shelter for 72 hours, the time the state requires shelters to hold dogs picked up as strays before euthanizing them. He growls as Animal Control Officer Jim Rich secures his neck with a catchpole, a pole with a noose that can be tightened.
Rich pulls the dachshund out of the kennel and leads it to a room housing a 48.5-by-46.5-inch carbon monoxide gas chamber. He is firm but not rough with the catchpole.
Rich stops in front of the chamber, opens the door and uses the pole to guide the dog inside.
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Animal Control falls under the jurisdiction of the Rowan Health Department, and Director Leonard Wood is present for the euthanasia viewing requested by the Salisbury Post for this series. Martin and Environmental Health Supervisor Lynn Aldridge are also present.
The mood in the room is somber, almost reverent, as Rich turns on the carbon monoxide.
“It’s not a pleasant thing to watch,” Wood says. “It’s not pleasant for us, either.”
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The only sound coming from the chamber is the scampering of the dachshund’s feet on the metal floor.
The dog does not whimper or bark. The barking of other dogs in the indoor kennels breaks the silence.
Martin says it takes 10 to 15 seconds for the carbon monoxide to render the dog unconscious. Within seconds, there is a thud inside the chamber as the dog falls.
After 25 to 28 seconds, Rich turns the gas off.
Martin says it takes 15 to 45 seconds after the gas is turned off for death to occur.
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Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas universally fatal to all mammals at levels at or above 7 percent. Leaks could cause serious health problems for Animal Control staff, even death.
Two carbon monoxide detectors are in the room to alert staff of any leakage.
“Safety is a big issue for us,” Wood says. “Our staff is real, real important to us, so we make sure we protect them.”
The standard wait before removing animals from the chamber is 20 minutes, after which Rich turns on a fan inside for about five minutes, puts on some latex gloves and goes outside to remove the dachshund’s body from the door on the other side.
He puts the body in a cooler, where it will be kept until placed in an incinerator in the same room as the chamber.
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Normally, Martin says, more than one animal is euthanized at a time ó three to six dogs depending on their size or 15 to 20 cats.
From July 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009, the shelter euthanized 4,760 animals ó 2,067 dogs and 2,611 cats. Totals for recent fiscal years are:
– 2007-2008 ó 5,498 animals.
– 2006-2007 ó 6,011 animals.
– 2005-2006 ó 6,230 animals..
Wood and Martin say gassing animals is the most humane and cost-effective method of euthanasia.
“I just think we happen to have a philosophical disagreement with the folks who are pushing this issue to ban the chamber,” Wood says. “We think it’s an appropriate method, and we think we should continue using it as an approved method.”
Wood says the cats and dogs euthanized in the gas chamber do not suffer.
“They go to sleep, and they don’t regain consciousness. Lethal injections can be very, very disruptive to both the animals and the handlers.
“Have you ever had to manage a feral animal, dog or cat? We’re not talking about pets. We’re talking about animals that are wild and can be very vicious.”
Wood says Animal Control officers generally use a catchpole to handle feral or aggressive animals.
“If you’re going to have to give them sedatives and/or lethal injection,” he says, “you’re going to have to have some kind of restraint method.
“I think both of those are very traumatic, but I do think the catchpole is still the preferred choice.”
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Martin spoke in favor of using gas chambers at a state hearing on House Bill 6, known as “Davie’s Law/Humane Euthanasia in Shelters.”
The bill, filed by N.C. Rep. Cary Allred of Burlington, is named for a puppy that survived a gas chamber and was later found alive in a plastic bag in a dumpster.
Martin’s opinion, as stated in a summary of his presentation at the state hearing, is as follows:
“While most of us consider animals and in turn, animal euthanasia, in terms of our own family pet, some may fail to appreciate the fact that animal shelters see all kinds of animals and temperaments, including, but not limited to animals owners surrender because they can longer control them, animals that have been chained their whole lives with minimal contact, feral cats with no direct human contact …
“The majority of animals animal shelters come in contact with have not been the ‘family pet’ for years, have not totally bonded with their owners and do not welcome human touch.”
Just as there are safety concerns for staff from carbon monoxide exposure, he says, “one could reasonably offer staff safety concerns resulting from an attempt to anesthetize and euthanize a vicious dog or feral cat via lethal injection.”
Because lethal injection requires more handling, “many animals would be more traumatized by unfamiliar handling.”
Martin says animal shelters should have the flexibility to use the best method for the circumstances.
“To limit animal euthanasia to a single method,” he says, “ignores professional, veterinary medical fact and would contribute negatively to employee safety, as well as creating unnecessary trauma for the animals we are trying so hard to help.”
Martin says euthanasia is the most difficult part of the job for Rowan County Animal Control staff.
They’re all animal lovers, Martin says. That’s why they do what they do.
Euthanasia is an unfortunate reality of animal overpopulation, he says.
“We need to take the focus off the method of euthanasia used,” he says, “and turn our attention on the irresponsible pet owners that do not spay and neuter their pets.”
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Coming Tuesday: Lethal injections at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control.