Nonprofit group hopes to end carbon monoxide deaths at Heber pound

HEBER — A nonprofit group has offered to end animal death via carbon monoxide poisoning in this rural city by raising and maintaining a $2,500 fund for a local veterinarian to visit the shelter.

Now, the group, Friends of Animals, just needs to persuade the Heber and Midway city councils and their local police agencies to agree to the plan. The cities work together closely on animal control issues.

Thursday night, the Heber City Council heard a presentation from the pet advocacy group, which has been volunteering at the city shelter since September 2009.

One Friends of Animals employee and several volunteers have allowed the city to extend the operating hours of the pound and have taken turns socializing, walking and cleaning up after the lost or unwanted pets. The group has also started a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats.

Before that, a single officer was assigned to watching after the pound population.

Friends of Animals, which says it does extensive fundraising and isn't asking for any taxpayer help, says it is still facing an uphill battle to persuade Heber City police to move away from gas chamber euthanasia. The police are responsible for administering euthanasia at the pound.

"Maybe we was a little nearsighted in not doing euthanasia by injection, but I've also read a lot of articles about euthanasia not being the only method, And it's not the only acceptable method," said Police Chief Ed Rhoades. "There's times when I really validly think that the carbon monoxide chamber really is the way to go."

The chief also provided an editorial written by veterinarian Robert J. Neunaiz defending the use of carbon monoxide chambers, especially for vicious dogs and feral cats.

For Friends of Animals executive director Cathy King and the roomful of supporters she brought with her, bringing in a veterinarian is a win-win outcome for everyone.

"We just have to convince them that it's easier to adopt out animals than kill them," she said.

Before the city council decides on the proposal, the Heber animal control board will have to consider it and will need clearance from the city attorney.

Heber is one of several shelters in Utah that use gas chambers to kill unwanted pets. Earlier this year, the Utah Senate voted against a bill that would have limited animal euthanasia methods.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com