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The Texas State Health & Safety code allows animal shelters in Texas to euthanize animals using one of two methods - either intravenous sodium pentobarbital or carbon monoxide gas. Most cities in North Texas stopped using carbon monoxide years ago, and now Garland residents are wondering why their city hasn't also, since intravenous sodium pentobarbital is widely considered more humane and is the method veterinarians use in private practice.
Some residents are even wondering why Texas law still allows the use of carbon monoxide gas at all when twelve states have outlawed it and six more are said to be considering making it illegal. According to Cile Holloway, President of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, "THLN has worked with the Texas Department of State Health Services since the Humane Euthanasia Law passed several sessions ago. With each review of the law and/or accompanying rules we have had the opportunity to urge the department to prohibit the use of the [gas] chamber, but the state stands firm. They contend there are many animal control facilities operated by one officer (often times a sheriff) and that the only way to euthanize animals humanely in these "one man facilities" is with the use of a chamber - as sodium pentobarbital injection often requires two individuals to perform the euthanasia humanely."
With a staff of nearly 20, including animal control officers already trained in both methods of euthanasia, and a full time vet, it is hard to understand why Garland's animal services department chooses not to change. Perhaps had they stayed for the public comment portion of Tuesday night's Garland City Council meeting, they'd have heard the Garland residents who spoke out in support of ending gassing, making it clear that it was time Garland took a long, hard look at the issue.
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Comments
Thanks for writing about this very important topic! Hope to see a stop to this soon!
I watched a video on this and Its the most heart breaking thing I've ever seen... In my eyes its worse that dog fights... Thank you for standing up for the poor animals
Please visit my website to learn more about the gassing of Texas shelter animals and how you can help stop it. www.STOPgassingtexaspets.com
Please sign the petition on the website, it is very important that we make all cities who still gas, stop the gassing.There are still several cities that we do not know about, if you know of a city that still gasses that is not on the list, please email the webmaster to add that city to the list. Thank you, for caring about the animals
BTW it does NOT take two employess to euthanize by lethal injection, it can be done with one person and a grooming arm and noose.
Please keep these stories comming... we need to raise awareness - everyone attend city council meetings on the 1st and 3rd tueseday of each month and speak out about this horrible pratice.
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