By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
The Rowan County Board of Health has imposed a moratorium on requests for public viewing of animal euthanizations at the Animal Shelter.
The moratorium will be in effect until a subcommittee of the board makes a recommendation on a proposed non-public viewing policy. Chairwoman Barbara Andrews asked board members Dan Mikkelson, Vice Chairman Rick Parker and Dr. Billy Webb to serve on the subcommittee.
The decision on a moratorium followed discussion of the proposed policy which would only allow owners of pets being euthanized to be present provided their written requests are approved by the director of the Rowan County Health Department.
Mikkelson asked if euthanizing pets for owners was a service Animal Control provides.
Health Department Director Leonard Wood said as a general rule, most pet owners would take their pets to a veterinarian to be euthanized.
Animal Control Supervisor Clai Martin said people sometimes turn their pets in to the Animal Shelter if they are no longer able to take care of them.
Board member and Rowan County Commissioner Chad Mitchell asked if there had been recent requests from people wanting to view the euthanization process.
Martin said he had received a couple of requests.
Wood, when asked after the meeting for a specific number, said he had received three requests to view a euthanization, including one from the Salisbury Post for an upcoming series on euthanization legislation being considered in the N.C. General Assembly.
“I feel like your request was legitimate and I support the news media being involved and aware,” he said. “I have some real issues with what the agenda is of certain individuals in our community who want to come and make a spectacle …
“I think the board has to make a decision on how they want to handle it. I fully intend to abide by the board’s decision.”
As part of the board’s discussion, Mikkelson said he agrees that Rowan Animal Control employees should be able to do their jobs without being disrupted. “That’s the intent of this policy, and I support that element of it,” he said.
Another element, however, is the right of the general public to keep an eye on government. “And I support that,” he said.
Martin said the carbon monoxide chamber used for euthanization is inspected annually by the manufacturer. In addition, the N.C. Department of Agriculture would inspect it annually under new guidelines set to go into effect in the near future.
Parker suggested having people who want to view the euthanization process fill out an application for review before a decision is made. “We do have to keep our staff safe,” he said.
Board member Dr. Robert Tannehill said publicizing an application process might encourage even more people to request a viewing.
Parker said that process wouldn’t mean that all requests would be granted.
Mikkelson said in some instances, allowing people to observe euthanizations could be a good thing as long as they’re not being disruptive or putting anyone at risk. Sometimes people who are in opposition to something really don’t understand it, he said.
If allowed to view the process, he said, people who are critical of the carbon monoxide chamber method of euthanization, for example, might find that it is indeed humane.
Andrews favored delaying a decision on the proposed non-public viewing policy until the subcommittee has time to study it. “There may be a better way to go,” she said.
Mikkelson asked Wood if he could wait on a decision on the policy to respond to pending requests to view euthanizations.
Wood said, “I need some guidance from the board to see what you want me to do.”
Mikkelson suggested not allowing any viewing until the subcommittee reports back to the board.
Mitchell said he had checked with County Attorney Jay Dees about viewing policies in other counties. Most fell into three categories, Mitchell said, either no policy, a no-viewing policy or viewing only by pet owners.
A no-viewing policy would likely result in litigation, he said, so it would be important for the Rowan County Board of Commissioners to approve it, thereby accepting liability.
Mitchell also pointed out that the meetings of the subcommittee would be open to the public.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.