A bill to ban gas chambers that has passed the New York State Assembly the past 2 years but not the Senate, has once again been introduced.
The proposed law ONLY applies to municipal animal shelters. It does NOT apply to research laboratories or dog breeders who may be using a gas chamber to euthanize unwanted, old or sick animals. We would like to see these animals included.
In addition, this law makes it a crime for animal shelters to transfer animals to other rescue groups to enhance the chance of adoption. Right now an animal may only leave by adoption or redemption. Shelters are currently being cited by the state for such transfers. We would want there to be no crime in animal shelters transferring adoptable animals to rescue groups. Many lives could be saved this way.
NY State Agricultural Bill AB 999 (A00999, 999--B) would mandate except in an emergency the use of injection of sodium pentobarbital or a sodium pentabarbital solution to euthanize animals in public shelters.
Intracardiac injection, commonly known as heartstick, could only be used on unconscious, comatose or "heavily sedated" animals.
Animals could not be left unattended and death would be required to be confirmed. Failure to comply with either of these requirements could mean a $500 fine.
The bill would require gas chambers to be dismantled and removed. Failure to do that could mean a $500 fine.
In an emergency gunshot could be used to kill an animal. An emergency means when an animal is posing an imminent threat of serious physical injury to a person or to another animal, where the use of a humane method of euthanasia is rendered impossible or in cases where a severely injured animal is suffering irremediably.
Violations of this law could mean up to a year in jail and a $1000 fine.
Here is a copy of the bill.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A00999&sh=t
Please sign the petition and contact your NY state senator asking him or her to vote yes on AD999 (A00999, 999--B ).
http://www.nysenate.gov/committee/agriculture
We the undersigned urge New York State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine and all Senate Agriculture Committee members to which Bill AD999 (A00999, 999--B) is currently assigned, to read the bill, and vote yes to pass it into New York State Law at the soonest available opportunity.
We thank Senator Aubertine and the Committee for taking the time to hear our petition in support of NY state bill AD999 (A00999, 999--B) which would prevent gassing and require lethal injectoin to dispose of animal shelter dogs, cats, and wildlife in New York State except for emergency situations.
