Groups Want Gas Chamber To Euthanize Animals Banned
- by: Ramona Thompson
- recipient: The State of Alabama
The eyes of the world are upon The State of Alabama as Alabama continues to use this cruel and outdated method of euthanasia. This petition is to protest the use of gas chambers in Alabama Animal Shelters.
The use of lethal injections for purposes of euthanasia brings death within seconds, without pain. The gas chambers used to asphyxiate shelter animals result in terrifying final struggles for life that take merciless minutes upon minutes and are not always successful on the first attempt.
The banning of the gas chambers would phase out all gas chamber types operated that collect and care for strays, neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals in private and public animal shelters throughout Alabama.
The State of Alabama is encouraged to promote the control of pet populations through low cost Spay-Neuter Programs. More people in Alabama would have their pets spayed or neutered but are prohibited by the costs.
We present our petition respectfully to The State of Alabama on behalf of The Voiceless Ones who cannot speak for themselves regarding this cruel and outdated practice.
We, the undersigned, present our signatures in protest from around the world regarding the State of Alabama's practice of using gas chambers to euthanize animals in Animal Shelters in Alabama's private and government facilities.
The State of Alabama allows the use of this cruel and outdated method for purposes of euthanasia. This is the year 2011, not 1911.
The banning of gas chambers for purposes of euthanasia is also being supported by Humane and Veterinary groups across the country.
Doug Fakkema has been in animal protection for 30 years. He is a trainer and euthanasia workshop consultant, and was a shelter director in Oregon and California for 19 years. Doug made the following statement to National Geographic:
'In theory, the gas chamber doesn't sound bad, but in reality it's awful. The animal is in a warm or hot box, usually with other animals. They don't know what's going on. The hiss of the gas is going on inside. They get dizzy, and they panic, he said. Fights can break out, and animals' calls can sometimes be heard.
Today most private and city animal shelters euthanize animals with sodium pentobarbital, a controlled substance that is injected into one of a dog or cat's veins. Animals die in seconds, experts say, and without pain or suffering.'
National Geographic states that "private-practice animal hospitals also use sodium pentobarbital to euthanize sick and old family pets.
The American Humane Association (AHA), an animal- and child-welfare nonprofit, says that lethal injection is the only acceptable method for putting down dogs and cats."
The State of Alabama seeks to attract international businesses into the State. By setting a more compassionate up-to-date standard for euthanization, Alabama will establish herself as a State that recognizes the respected values of both compassion and modernization.Common sense tells a person that death by asphyxiation is a cruel process that deprives a living creature of oxygen. It creates a terrifying final agonizing struggle for life from each creature that can take minutes that are longer than is mercifully necessary.
A humane approach to euthanasia and controlling pet populations is needed in Alabama.
Until The State of Alabama adopts a more compassionate and modern methodology in euthanasia of shelter animals, and promotes low cost spay-neuter programs for controlling pet populations, Alabama once again will continue to be at the bottom of the list for the 50 States in yet another area.
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