does my city/county gas or not?
List of NON-GASSING shelters grows to281! - The following cities/counties do NOT gas:
Abernathy, Addison, Alamo, Albany, Alpine, Alvarado, Alvin, Amarillo, Anahuac, Anderson County, Andrews, Angleton, Anna, Anson, Aransas County, Aransas Pass, Arlington, Balch Springs, Balcones Heights, Bandera, Bay City, Baytown, Beaumont, Bedford, Benbrook, Big Lake, Big Spring, Bishop, Boerne, Bonham, Borger, Bowie, Brady, Breckenridge, Brenham, Bridgeport, Brown County, Brownfield, Brownwood, Buda, Buffalo Springs Lake, Burkburnett, Burleson, Burnet, Cameron, Canadian, Canton, Canyon, Carrollton, Carthage, Castroville, Cedar Park, Celina, Childress, Clarksville, Claude, Clifton, Collin County, Colony, Colorado City, Comal County, Comanche, Combes, Commerce, Coppell, Corpus Christi, Corsicana, Cottonwood Shores, Crane, Crandall, Crawford, Crockett, Crosbyton, Dalhart, Dallas, Dallas County, Decatur, Deer Park, Denison, Denton, Denver City, Diboll, Dickinson, Dilley, Donna, Dumas, Eastland, Eden, Electra, Elkhart, Ellis County, El Paso, Euless, Everman, Fairview, Farmers Branch, Fayette County, Ferris, Floresville, Flower Mound, Floydada, Forest Hill, Fort Stockton, Fort Worth, Frankston, Fredericksburg, Friona, Frisco, Fritch, Fulton, Galveston, Gatesville, Georgetown, Giddings, Glenn Heights, Glen Rose, Gonzales, Gorman, Graham, Grand Prairie, Grandview, Granger, Grapevine, Gruver, Guadalupe County, Haltom City, Hamilton, Hamlin, Harker Heights, Harlingen, Hawkins, Hereford, Hickory Creek, Highland Village, Hill Country H.S. (Christ-Yoder), Hillsboro, Huntsville, Hurst, Hutto, Idalou, Irving, Jacksboro, Jasper, Jim Hogg (Hebbronville), Jonestown, Katy, Keene, Keller, Kennedale, Kileen, Kilgore, Kirby, Kress, Ladonia, Lake Worth, Lamesa, Lancaster, La Porte, Laredo, Lavon, Leander, Leon Valley, Levelland, Lewisville, Lexington, Lindale, Little Elm, Littlefield, Live Oak, Llano, Lockhart, Lockney, Longview, Los Fresnos, Lowry Crossing, Lubbock, Lucas, Lufkin, Luling, Lynn County, Mansfield, Marble Falls, Marion, Marshall, Maypearl, McKinney, McLean, Melissa, Memphis, Mertzon, Mesquite, Mexia, Midland, Midlothian, Miles, Mineola, Mineral Wells, Mission, Mitchell County, Monahans, Mount Pleasant, Muleshoe, Murphy, Nacogdoches, Nassau Bay, Navasota, Nederland, Nevada, New Braunfels, New Deal, New Hope, Nocona, North Richland Hills, North Texas, Nueces County, O'Donnell, Olney, Orange, Paducah, Palestine, Palmer, Palm Valley, Pampa, Pasadena, Pearland, Pecos County, Pelican Bay, Pflugerville, Pharr, Pittsburg, Pilot Point, Plains, Plano, Port Lavaca, Post, Presidio, Primera, Princeton, Prosper, Ralls, Ranger, Red Oak, Richardson, Roanoke, Robstown, Rockport, Rockwall, Rosenberg, Round Rock, Rowlett, Royse City, Sachse, Saginaw, San Angelo, Sanger, Santa Anna, Schulenburg, Seymour, Schertz, Skellytown, Slaton, Snyder, South Padre Island, Spur, Stephenville, Taylor, Temple, Terrell County, Tri-City, Troy, Tulia, Universal City, Waco, Waskom, Weatherford, White Deer, Winnsboro, Winters, Wortham & Wylie
The following 34 cities/counties DO gas their shelter animals to death!!! (see "contacts" tab to call, fax, email or write)
Alice, Beeville, Bovina, Brackettville, Clyde, Eldorado, Forney, Garland, Goliad ("ONLY" cats), Grand Saline, Greenville (contracts w/ East Tawakoni & Hunt County), Hallettsville, Henderson (contracts w/ Overton), Ingleside, Medina County (contracts w/ Hanis), Odessa, Paris, Plainview, Port Aransas, San Marcos (contracts w/ Hays County & Kyle), Seagoville, Seguin, Seminole, Sherman, Terrell, Three Rivers, Van Horn & Victoria
who makes gas chambers???
Through an open records request submitted to the City of Plainview I obtained the following information on the company supplying GAS CHAMBERS to animal shelters across Texas. Their motto is "WE CARE." They promote their "Euthanasia System" as "humane, safe, reliable, simple, nonpolluting and economical." Give me a break!
Animal Awareness, Inc. 2575 South 2700 West #B Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 Phone 801-973-8071
Completely Outrageous! July 12
The GASSING City of Alice is refusing to release the following PUBLIC information that I asked for in a public information request according to City Attorney Joe Torres and has filed a letter with the Office of the Attorney General to ask that this information NOT be given! NO other gassing city has refused such a request!!!
1. Contact information for city council members and mayor to include email address, mailing address, fax number & phone number as well as start and end dates for each term being served and location and time of city counci meetings.
2. Contact information for members of the "Animal Services Advisory Committee" if this committee exists. I have not been able to confirm if the City of Alice has such a committee.
3. Address of animal shelter and contact information for animal services staff to include email address, mailing address, fax number & phone number.
4. Contact information for City Manager Ray De Los Santos to include email address, mailing address, fax number & phone number.
states ban gassing!
Georgia Governor Signs Gas Chambers Ban into Law!
Update May 25, 2010: Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has announed that he has signed HB 788 into law! This means by January 1, 2011, no county or city in the state can use carbon monoxide gas chambers to kill shelter animals.
Pennsylvania Bill to Ban CO Gas Chambers
May 4, 2010 Pennsylvania Senate Bill 672, introduced by Sen. Sean Logan would mean an end to animal gas chambers in the state. Five public shelters still use CO gas chambers to kill shelter animals. The bill has passed the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill would ban the use of chloroform, ether, halothan, fluothane, or similar substance when used in an airtight chamber or plastic bag, as well as carbon monoxide from any source, in killing homeless animals.
Louisiana Bill to Ban Gas Chambers Assigned to House Committee
Update April 28, 2010: S.B. 73, which would ban the use of animal gas chambers in Louisiana, is now in the House of Representatives and assigned to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development. Update April 27, 2010: By a vote of 35-0 yesterday, the Louisiana Senate voted to ban use of carbon monoxide gas chambers to kill animals.
OTHER STATES
December 4, 2009 The bills in New York, West Virginia, New Mexico, Illinois passed and are now law!
Watch these videos. This is the reality of gassing shelter animals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XC-6qNi3bk&feature=related
WARNING both videos below are VERY GRAPHIC!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSv4wHYP60M&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMR9scfrsx0&feature=PlayList&p=CBD197B48F3EEEB1&index=0
how can i help?
1. Contact cities/counties that gas and tell them to STOP! Attend city council, commissioner, animal advisory committee & other meetings and let your voice be heard! Post meetings on your city's Craigslist website.
2. Contact the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and let them know that the use of carbon monoxide gas is NOT an acceptable form of euthanasia and that you support injection euthanasia. If the AVMA changes its endorsement of Carbon Monoxide Gas then states are likely to follow. Dr. Gail Golab, Director of Animal Welfare Division at GGolab@avma.org or write to AVMA,
3. Talk to your veterinarian and ask them to contact the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) to oppose the gassing of shelter animals.
4. Contact the media (TV, radio, newspapers) about this issue. Ask them to report and investigate gassing.
5. Lastly, make a difference at your local shelter by volunteering, fostering and helping with adoptions. Get your pets spayed & neutered. Donate to the shelter. They are always accepting goods and monetary donations.
non-gassing TX shelters RESPOND
In a June 10, 2010 letter Shelter Manager Sandy Matteson of the Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter/ Adoption Center (Hill Country Humane Society) wrote “There is no way in this world, that we would use a gas chamber. We use injection of fatal-plus. We do not believe in the chamber. It is a cruel way to die with no respect for the animal. I had to use a chamber in 1984. I will fight it all the way, to stop the use of gas chambers.”
In a March 26, 2010 letter City Secretary Debbie Thomas from the City of Alvarado wrote "All of our animals are humanely euthanized by injection."
In a March 31, 2010 letter from the City of Angleton City Secretary Shelly Deisher wrote “Our city has not used any form of carbon monoxide for euthanasia of animals for many years.”
In a March 30, 2010 email the City of Anson Chief of Police Patrick Hawthorne stated "We don't feel gas chambers are a humane way to euthanize animals."
In a May 4, 2010 email the City of Borger City Manager Eddie Edwards wrote "At one time we did use carbon monoxide. However, that method was discontinued many years ago after local officials at the time deemed it inhumane."
In a policy dated June 3, 2010 by Eduardo de Castro, City of El Paso Deputy Public Health Director stated the following “The only approved (euthanasia) method is hypodermic injection of sodium pentobarbital”. One of the personnel considerations is “must be gentle and compassionate.” Injection euthanasia is considered the “most rapid and reliable.”
In a April 23, 2010 email the Erath County Humane Society Director Birgit Sommer noted "We are happy to let you know that we do not use gas, a decompression chamber or car exhaust (that's still done???).
In a April 21, 2010 email Animal Services Manager Christine Hastings from the City of
In a May 10, 2010 letter from the City of
In a March 30, 2010 letter from the City of Gonzales City Manager David Huseman stated “We no longer have or operate a gas chamber…We did have a gas chamber at the dog facility, but it was cut into pieces and removed approximately two years ago.”
In an May 25, 2010 email Kim Mills of the City of Graham Animal Control noted “…we euthanize with a solution called Fatal Plus, I have been the Animal Control Officer since 1984 and feel that the method we use is the most humane, although no one likes to euthanize we feel that it is in the best interest of the animal.”
In a May 10, 2010 letter the City of Hereford Chief of Police David Wagner wrote “..started using bottled carbon monoxide gas in the early 1990’s, but after a few years this method was discontinued in 1997.”
In a April 6, 2010 letter from the City of
In a June 4, 2010 letter from the City of Keene Police Chief Rocky Alberti noted "A chamber...is being used as dog house in the outside exercise area...For the peace of mind of those who may be concerned about this chamber being on our property, as of today the chamber has been disposed of. We take great pride in the human treatment of animals, and are active in the adoption of abandoned and stray animals."
In a July 16, 2010 letter the City of Llano Chief of Police James Schilling wrote that the "only form of euthanization used...is humane lethal injection."
In an April 5, 2010 email Rhonda McLendon, Director of the City of
In a July 20, 2010 the City of Marshall Animal Control Supervisor Shelly Cullum wrote "In response to your request for information...we can proudly say (that the City) does not use any of the means of euthanasia you have inquired about."
In a March 26, 2010 letter The City of Muleshoe City Manager David Brunson wrote “…has recently completed negotiations and entered into an agreement with the local veterinarian to provide all euthanasia of animals. The city no longer operates a carbon monoxide gas chamber.” WAY TO GO MULESHOE!!!
In an email dated June 18, 2010 Director of Operations Tammy Hawley at the Humane Society of North Texas wrote “…does not support the use of gas chambers. We hate that the need to euthanize exists. However, it does. We believe it should be done with compassion, kindness and professionalism.”
In a letter dated June 8, 2010 Charlotte Stone, the City of Palm Valley Administrative Assistant wrote "The only form of euthanasia in use...is by humane injection. No chambers of any kind are located on the property."
In a letter dated April 29, 2010 the City of Pampa City Secretary Karen Price wrote “Injection has been the method of choice by the City of
In a letter from April 30, 2010 the City of Sachse Chief of Police Dennis Veach noted “We use humane injection method of administering ‘Fatal Plus’ chemical…for over a year.”
In a May 12, 2010 email the City of
In a letter from April 21, 2010 City of Winters Chief of Police Nathan Johnson said “To my knowledge, no such methods (gassing) have ever been employed in the history of the City of
Do you have any questions, suggestions, comments or information about this website or about the gassing of shelter animals then please email me at asmoses@austin.rr.com
The website is free to visit. I am a private citizen who cares about animals. I am not part of an organization and am not paid for this site.
update! June 2, 2010
So far, I have mailed out over 240 open records requests to cities/counties across
I will be listing ALL gassing shelters on THIS website along with the contact information (CONTACTS tab) for that city/county, i.e. city council members, city managers and mayors. I will also be including media contacts. I will be asking the public to contact these folks by mail, phone, email and fax to DEMAND that the gassing stops! Recent outcries from the public led cities like
Sign the petition to ban gassing in Texas!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stop-the-gassing-of-shelter-animals-in-texas
SEE "DOCUMENTS" TAB - WHY GASSING IS DANGEROUS FOR HUMANS, IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES
Carbon monoxide oozing from gas chambers and cylinders, even at low levels, can put shelter employees at risk of health problems, some of which can be delayed for weeks after exposure. They are at risk from CO poisoning when they load and unload or clean the gas chamber, breathing in low levels of the gas on a regular basis...
tell me about this issue
Most experts will agree that the most important factor in euthanizing shelter animals is “humaneness of the method.” Humane euthanasia will consist of “painless unconsciousness, followed by respiratory, and then cardiac arrest.” This does NOT apply to Carbon Monoxide Gas. Its many limitations are that it is less humane, less practical, considerably slower and is the more expensive form of euthanasia.
In carbon monoxide gas euthanasia, a properly equipped and manufactured chamber is to be used. Chambers constructed with plywood or cinder block and already in existence can be used if in good repair. The chamber should be located in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors. It should be well lit and have view ports that are shatterproof so that staff have direct observation of the animals. All fans, lights or other equipment inside must be explosion-proof. The sound of the gas entering the chamber may cause fear in some animals, especially cats. Animals may become restless or aggressive, further stressing other animals. The gas does NOT immediately render the animals unconscious. Some animals may go through a period of resistance and dogs may vocalize or howl while becoming rigid. Animals are to be left in the chamber for and exposed to the gas for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure death. Death must be verified for each animal prior to disposal.
The chamber should achieve a minimum of 6% concentration of gas. The concentration should never exceed 10% or there can be an explosion. The gas chamber cannot have too many animals inside and they must be separated from each other in cages. Animals must never be pushed, dragged or thrown into the gas chamber or cages. The chamber must be properly sealed so that gas does not leak as leakage can not only prolong the process, but endanger others. Certain animals should never be gassed and include geriatric, under the age of four months, sick, injured or pregnant. A euthanasia technician should be present during the entire cycle to ensure there is no equipment malfunction or other problem. After the allotted time, what is left is a pile of dead animals covered in feces and urine whose carcases are then removed to provide space for the next batch. The chamber must be cleaned thoroughly between each use.
There are employee liability issues associated with gassing due to hazards employee face. These include medical issues, employee deaths and gas chamber explosions. Carbon monoxide is a hazardous substance that is highly toxic. It has no odor, color or taste. Repeated exposure, even at low levels, can result in many long-term effects including (not limited to): impaired memory, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, heart irregularity and brain damage. Exposure to pregnant women can cause low birth weight in their infants.
Euthanasia by Sodium Pentobarbital also referred to as “injection euthanasia” is by far considered to be the most humane, less stressful and safest. Injection euthanasia is performed by two staff. One person holds the animal while the other injects the drug into the vein. The collapse of the animal is almost instantaneous as the syringe is emptied. This is the most rapid and reliable method of euthanasia. Injection euthanasia requires a gentle touch and technical proficiency. Shelter staff often report that their ability to calm and comfort animals during this procedure helps ease the process of euthanasia.
Recent studies have shown that injection euthanasia is more cost effective than carbon monoxide gas euthanasia. A cost study done by the HSUS in 2007 indicated that carbon monoxide is more expensive than injection.
Injection euthanasia cost per animal $2.29
Carbon monoxide cost per animal $4.98 2 operators
Carbon monoxide cost per animal $4.66 (no tranquilizer) 2 operators
Carbon monoxide cost per animal $3.09 1 operator
Carbon monoxide cost per animal $2.77 (no tranquilizer) 1 operator
Cost analysis matrix uses actual 2007 cost & animal data from a municipal animal control agency in
The argument is NOT "there should be no euthanasia of shelter animals." This is a ridiculous statement as there is an overpopulation of adoptable and unadoptable dogs and cats across the
- A cat ran back and forth in the chamber for several minutes. He jumped and slammed his body against the cage to try and escape. Terrified cats huddle in piles or cling to the ceiling of the metal grating.
- A puppy was gassed along with numerous other animals in a chamber. He survived the gassing and was left crying. He was then gassed a second time. On the third attempt, he died.
- A husky's rusty crate was wheeled into the chamber. The door slammed shut and the switch flicked. The husky scratched at the door and raised its head, swinging it from side to side as he howled. He then collapsed, unconscious, but was not dead.
- The howling of dogs coming from the chamber was deafening. It sounded so loud and awful. They could be heard for up to 45 seconds. Often the radio was turned up so as to avoid hearing them.
- Often when multiple animals are placed in a chamber at the same time and gassed together, they injure themselves and each other in their terror.
These examples put a large hole in the belief, by some, that in the carbon monoxide chamber “an animal dies pain free in a peaceful alternative that causes them to merely drift off to sleep.”
In
Those making policies would much rather continue with what is familiar regardless of public outcry, staff requests and the outrageous incidents of animal suffering. This is why it is VERY important to contact your local officials to DEMAND that gassing of shelter animals be STOPPED immediately.
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