Grace's Law, H.B. 788, passed the Georgia Senate yesterday by a very wide margin:  38-9, with 4 not voting and 5 excused.  Grace's Law would once and for all, ban the use of the gas chamber to kill dogs and cats in Georgia's shelters.  Progressive animal welfare advocates have universally condemned gas chambers as  cruel and outmoded.  The Association of Shelter Veterinarians has issued a position statement unequivocally opposing the use of gas chambers in animal shelters.  Cost analyses, including one commissioned by the American Humane Association, show that gassing is actually more expensive than euthanasia by injection.  The vast majority of shelters in Georgia do not use gas chambers, but several taxpayer-funded shelters still do.

It was a victory, but a bittersweet one, because the bill was once again amended.  After passing the House by a wide margin, it went to the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee of the Senate, where the amendment allowing for intracardiac injections if an animal was heavily sedated, unconscious or comatose was added.  It then passed the Rules committee on Tuesday and went to the floor of the full Senate for a vote on Wednesday.  There, an amendment proposed by Senator Bulloch was accepted.*  Instead of Grace's Law going into immediate effect upon being signed by the Governor, its effect would be delayed until January 1, 2013.  Although this is a delay, Grace's Law still puts a deadline on ending the gassing of shelter pets in Georgia, which we did not have before.  Because it was amended in the Senate, Grace's Law must now go  back to the House for approval.  There are two days left in this legislative session--Tuesday and Thursday of next week. 

The bill was opposed by a small handful of Senators, and arguments against it were bizarre and factually incorrect.  The gas chamber is neither humane nor cheaper than EBI.  Senator Heath  even inspired a blog post on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website with his claim, backed by a personal anecdote about himself suffering carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while fixing a car, that CO poisoning is the most humane way for animals and people to die, resulting in feelings of drowsiness and euphoria, but not pain.  He added that, “I can understand why people use it to commit suicide.”.  It is worth noting that Senator Heath's district includes Haralson County, one of the few remaining gassing counties in Georgia.  Until  2005, Haralson County had no Animal Control shelter, when it built one, complete with gas chamber--a full fifteen years after the Humane Euthanasia Act of 1990.

Phil Draughon, who adopted Grace after her ordeal in the gas chamber, has this to say about CO poisoning:

"I asked perhaps the foremost expert on carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. David Penney at Wayne State University, for his thoughts on using car­bon monoxide for euthanasia. He quickly replied and told me that “dying by carbon monoxide is definitely NOT painless or comfortable. We know this from both human and animal data. Various readily-available medications would likely be much less painful and unpleasant than CO.”

I have a lifelong friend in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department who once told me that dis­covering suicide victims who have died by CO poisoning are the most gruesome things he’s ever called upon to do. He sees bloodied fingers trying to claw their way out of the car sending the clear signal that they died in agony."

According to experts, in addition to being acutely toxic, CO poisoning can also have long term effects on memory, brain function, behavior and cognition.

The Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare ask that all Georgia voters immediately:

1.  Call your Representative and ask that they vote 'yes' on the amended H.B. 788, Grace's Law, when it goes before the House for a vote next week.

If you don't know who your Representative is, just go to the Project Vote Smart page, type in your zip code and click "go". If you don't know your zip+4, click “Don’t know your 9 digit zip?” on the right side of the screen and follow the instructions, then return to the Project Vote Smart page and use it. Your Representative's name will be highlighted in blue under the "State Legislative" heading.  Click on the name to go to their page which will have a link to their complete contact information.

2.  Call your Senator and ask if there is anything that can be done to remove the 2013 effective date amendment. And, if your Senator was among the 38 who voted 'yes', thank them. 

If you are unsure who your Senator is, just go to the Project Vote Smart page, type in your zip code and click "go".  If you don't know your zip+4, click “Don’t know your 9 digit zip?” on the right side of the screen and follow the instructions, then return to the Project Vote Smart page and use it. Your Senator's name will be highlighted in blue under the "State Legislative" heading. Click on the name to go to their page which will have a link to their complete contact information.

It is most effective to call your legislator's office in the Capitol, rather than their district office.  Phone calls or faxes are more effective than email, or, considering the time constraints, letters.

 The amended version of Grace's Law gives those shelters which still gas until January 1, 2013 to stop doing so.  They can certainly stop sooner than that.  Animal advocates, particularly those who reside in counties that still gas, can and should push for the closure and dismantlement of the chambers, as was done successfully in Liberty County and in Macon.  Many legislators reported overwhelming support for Grace's Law among their constituents.  A few of our legislators failed to see the voter mandate for an immediate end to this abusive method of killing Georgia's shelter pets.  While they are a disappointment, the amended bill sets an end date for gassing in Georgia.  Which county will be the first to surpass this mandate? 

Animal advocates, roll up your sleeves.  The race is on.

*The business of Grace's Law, H.B. 788 begins at the 1:44:42 mark in the video linked to here.

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