Euthanasia - The Gas Chamber

The Gas Box

Many tax-funded animal shelters still use carbon monoxide gas chambers to kill unwanted cats and dogs. This method is considered by many to be outdated and inhumane and guess what?! Your taxes are funding it!

Animals in a gas chamber do not die quickly or painlessly. They struggle for breath. They claw to get out. They attack/bite each other in their confusion and panic. This is not a pretty site and will stay with you for a very long time. When animals inhale carbon monoxide, they can suffer convulsions, vomiting, angina, and muscular spasms. Some will not die the first time. IF it MUST be done, there is a better, more humane way -- euthanasia by injection. This method is cost effective and takes only seconds.

****PLEASE NOTE - SAVING FURRY FRIENDS IS A NO-KILL RESCUE. OUR ANIMALS STAY HERE UNTIL THEY ARE ADOPTED BE IT 6 DAYS/6 WEEKS/6 MONTHS/6 YRS. WE DO NOT SUPPORT/ENDORSE EUTHANASIA HOWEVER IF CITY/COUNTY SHELTERS HAVE TO DO THIS AT LEAST DO IT HUMANELY. THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS IN REGARD TO CITY/COUNTY SHELTERS*****

The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Animal Control Association, the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights all advocate lethal injection of sodium pentobarbitol. It is considered the most humane, safest, and least stressful choice for euthanasia.

The Killing With Kindness Campaign demands one U.S. federal law: That all animal species housed in any shelter/pound/animal control facility shall be euthanized, only when necessary, by a veterinarian or trained, certified euthanasia technician, and that the animal shall first be sedated/tranquilized (when advisable) before being administered a lethal intravenous injection of sodium Phenobarbital.

The idea for a federal law for the humane euthanasia of shelter animals began with an e-mail message written out of frustration by a rescuer and animal advocate who was tired of hearing the same horror stories about killing practices in some shelters and dog pounds. Numerous people from every background in rescue efforts and advocacy ("animal rights" and "animal welfare") responded and added their expertise and recommendations.

Despite the irony of the campaign name, it does not place a seal of approval on killing! From the start, nobody involved in this campaign approved of killing animals as a "solution" for America's surplus pet problem. We despise the killing and the reality is that despite all our individual efforts and those of national and international organizations, nobody has yet been able to accomplish more than reducing the number of companion animals killed. The horrible killing practices continue and will likely continue into the foreseeable future. We are all hopeful that our other efforts will someday change that situation. We hope the campaign will call attention to all the other factors that have led to the mass killing. It is already too late for the millions of companion animals who have died terrible deaths.

This is a grassroots campaign -- "your" campaign. Whether it lives or dies, whether companion animals die cruelly or compassionately, will depend on your involvement.

http://www.crean.com/kindness/