The debate continues as to whether the City of Garland's animal services department should continue euthanizing unwanted animals using Carbon Monoxide or switch to intravenous sodium pentobarbital, widely considered to be the more humane method. The Dallas Morning News published a Letter to the Editor last week from Garland Councilman Rick Williams in which Mr. Williams claims the American Veterinary Medical Association "approves Garland's methodology as humane and acceptable".
The AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia report is available on their website, and it clearly indicates that carbon monoxide is an acceptable from of euthanasia, but sodium pentobarbital is the preferred method. The AVMA guidelines further state “the AVMA’s overriding commitment is to give veterinarians guidance in relieving pain and suffering of animals that are to be euthanatized....Ethical considerations that must be addressed when euthanatizing healthy and unwanted animals reflect professional and societal concerns. These issues are complex and warrant thorough consideration by the profession and all those concerned with the welfare of animals.”
The Humane Society of the United States Statement on Euthanasia Methods for Animal in Shelters clearly states that "the injection of sodium pentobarbital, prepared specifically for use as a euthanasia product, as the preferred agent for animal euthanasia."
This is not a black and white issue, but the AVMA finding that gassing is acceptable does not justify Garland's decision, any more than the HSUS statement that carbon monoxide is conditionally acceptable does.
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