Deseret News | Euthanizing animals: Debate rages over methods of killing unwanted pets

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Euthanizing animals: Debate rages over methods of killing unwanted pets

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geedub | 10:33 p.m. Sept. 27, 2009

There is no easy way euthanize these animals. People need to get there pet spayed and neutered. People are responsible for this problem.

Anonymous | 1:20 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I am adamantly opposed to the gas chamber approach to euthanasia for many of the reasons articulated in this article. But I must point out that there's a difference in putting down feral cats and a dog which was likely someone's pet. I very much doubt the ferals would have gone calmly into the night under the same circumstances as the Labrador described in the piece. That's not to say I believe the gas chamber is humane to cats, dogs, pets or strays, just that this may have been a faulty comparison. Though I'd hate to suggest the journalist witness another execution, it would seem necessary for the sake of an honest, objective report.

Please | 1:39 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Have your pets spayed or neutered. Be responsible for them. How cruel can a person be that has a pet, provided a home and then one day decides it's way too much work so they abandon the pet. What comes around goes around and life truly has it's justice which can't be denied. My heart goes out to those who work in the shelters. What an enormous toll on the emotions of those workers. Please be kind people and have your pets fixed.

Comments continue below

Re: geedub | 4:13 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

True. Animals in shelters are being punished for a problem that people are causing.

Terrible | 5:47 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

How would you rather go? Screaming in misery or comforted and surrounded by a little love.

The society | 6:19 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

As one who doesn't like to see animals killed because of the neglect and irresponsible humans there is no other choice left to us. How it's done is irrelevant. No death is painless or emotionless.

The real problems is people, the human ones. When people buy pets they don't take in to consideration that at some point they will have to kill their pets if they don't die of natural causes. Pets are a financial burden on families and individuals and most people I have seen with pets treat them with disrespect and inhumanely. Even animal lovers.

I really believe that any animal making its way to the pounds have a limited time to be reclaimed by owners. None of these animals should be resold and fostered out to anyone. And people will turn their animals loose rather than have to pay the pounds a fee to take them in, thus feral cats and dog packs.

Pets are animals in captivity and grossly abused because we humans do not understand their use and meaning in their lives. It's a form of slavery in the animal world and they don't belong in homes.

Sleeping Gas | 6:22 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

If gas is used, perhaps sleeping gas should be used first. Some dogs are so violent that it would put the staff at risk if they had to give them a shot.

Carrie | 6:29 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I will never understand, how any HUMAN, with any kind of heart, can say a gas chamber is a good way to euthanize, its in-humane and very painful, any animal deserves better. You must know , its our fault ,that these animals end up in shelters, in the first place. Pets are supposed to be with us ,for their natural life. I have many pets, and do to hard times, I give up things I need to keep them. Its 2009. there is no reason to use a gas chamber on a already broken hearted stressed animal. SHAME ON YOU.

S2 | 7:09 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I worked as a veterinary tech for some years and participated in hundreds of euthanasia procedures, all via injections. The animals were all handled with care and gentleness, and by all indications, felt no pain. With that experience, I found the description of the carbon monoxide procedure disturbing, though I can understand its benefit with ferel or aggressive animals. In our limited capabilities, a sedative could sometimes be administered (quickly and to the rear flanks!) to allow for the injections, but to a taxed system, this adds time, expense and more liability to exposure, so it is understandably an alternative.

These animals are our responsibility, and we will be held accountable for our treatment and consideration of our lesser beings and need these occasional reminders to take care not to needlessly and carelessly contribute to potential neglect.

splitme2 | 8:18 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

These stories make me so sad for these animals. I wish I could take them all but of course that's not possible. Like has been said, people need to be responsible for their pets.

No Name | 8:19 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Again I have to agree that if you do not want to see animals euthanized then get them SPAY/NEUTER !!!! It is easy for people to read this story and have a comment, but unless you are in this position everyday and really know how irresponsbile people are, then all I can say is start to get educated and help educate your community.

There is a reason that Bob Barker w/the Price is Right would say everyday when closing his show SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS.

Anonymous | 8:54 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I was horrified to see this article circulating across pit bull forums. I cannot believe a shelter in my neighboring state of Utah has installed a NEW gas chamber!!! So many of us in animal welfare are working so hard to get gassing banned and then a shelter pops up and installs one! And they are trying to sugar coat it that is very humane.
Its torture! I'm really disappointed in you Utah!
I urge the people in this community to continue to fight this and work to get this gas chamber stopped. Stay on them and don't back off.

Animal Lover | 9:02 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Reading this story absolutely made me sick to my stomach. We had to euthanize our dog recently because of old age and health. Even though it was done with much love and tenderness at the vet, it was the hardest thing EVER for us. The gas chamber method sounds just horrible. Please people, have your pets spade and neutered! That's the only way this problem is ever going to get better.

Finding a vein | 9:07 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

As Anonymous | 1:20 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009 points out, comparing feral cats to a dog that was a pet is apples and oranges. I'd like to see how SLCo animal shelter employees subdue wild animals and find a vein in which to inject.

It is one thing to cradle calm, pet dog while doing the injection. Try that with an abused or feral dog. Or a feral cat. Or even the rabid skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals that may be caught inside a city and need to be put down rather than released back into the wild.

And while I'd be hard pressed to support laws mandating it, I hold as my personal opinion that everyone other than PROFESSIONAL breeders (those who ONLY breed animals who have actually been shown and obtained championship points) should have all of their dogs and cats sterilized. We have altogether too many backyard breeders, too many owners with misplaced machoism, and too many lazy or careless owners who just won't spend a few bucks to avoid problems of unwanted breeding.

Get real | 9:36 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Gassing is appropriate. Death is never pretty, even for humans.

Teresa | 9:54 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Spay/neuter and human responsibility are good arguments but are out of place here. This article is about the very real NOW of how to deal with unwanted animals. Injection or gas?

As a feral cat rescuer, I can see that it would be difficult to use injections on wild animals. Just at the clinic for vet care, I know they have to tip the cage to one side, jam the cat down with a towel, and inject IM through the cage.

But I didn't know they cry and holler when the gas comes in, I thought that was quicker. I guess I was thinking of when humans use that method to kill themselves in the garage and they just go to sleep.

No good answers. God bless shelter staff who have to act on the poor choices humans make.

Feral Friend | 10:05 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

We can't just expect others to spay/neuter their pets. IT IS NOT ENOUGH, OR THEY WOULD ALREADY BE DOING IT.
We need to offer to help, offer to pay, offer to drive. And put peer pressure on these people, even if they are our neighbors, friends, or family.

The animals can't do it for themselves.

Actively support spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return/maintain for ferals, so they don't end up at shelters.

We also need government support for prosecuting those who abandon their pets. Every feral comes from, somewhere in its history, a tame cat that was not altered and was somehow abandoned.

If a person has more than 2-3 cats that are altered and care for it is a crime, and if the person is reported he/she will be investigated. But a person who abandons an unaltered cat, (or five or six) has absolutely no concern about ever being prosecuted. Report that person all you want - Nothing will happen.

And in the meantime, how much would it cost to provide anesthetizing gas before gassing these animals. West Valley, we'd like to know.

SusanBM | 10:13 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

So West Valley City likes the way the Nazi's did it, huh? Let's just gas them all! Of course, the problem, again, is that people don't act responsibly in the first place, but how anyone can say that it's okay to torture a poor animal through a gas chamber is absolute unconscionable in todays world! Heil West Valley City! Welcome to the 1940's Germany.

Think if you can | 10:25 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Animal people need to start taking responsibility for their own animals before the government puts them all down in a gas chamber. Dogs/Cats cannot be running around town be a nuisance to others as they are doing. Get those dogs and cats off the streets NOW!

Give me a break!!!! | 10:52 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

If Carbon Monoxide is soo horrible, then why do we buy CO detectors? Oh, that's right, because it's odorless, and if you are being poisoned, your symptoms are excessive tiredness, and you wouldn't know it was CO unless an alarm went off telling you know. That's why people who die of CO poisoning die in their sleep never knowing what happened to them. It is a humane way of putting down an animal. The animals are probably howling because they don't want to be locked up in a small space.

You honestly think being injected with poison is that much better?

wasacop | 11:00 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Any and all donations I have made to the WVC Pound is now in the past. I refuse to support any agency that tries to lead everyone on about the Chamber and the Needle being equal. I worked at the Joplin Mo shelter were they had both a needle and chamber way of putting animals down. After taking part in both ways I quit. The chamber is right out of the dark ages, I understand about hurt and feral animals ( the tech could be hurt trying to use a needle), but for all the rest the needle is the best and least stressfull way to go. I hope everyone at the shelter sleeps well at night by saving a few bucks at the expense of a poor animanl. If you think the chamber is ok--watch UTUBE and you can find clips of this sick way of putting an animal down.

hypocrit | 11:00 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Susan I'm sure you'll go right down and make a financial contribution to ensure that WVC can euthanize by injection. Right now you're just another French collaborator.

not even debatable | 11:06 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

look, there shouldn't even be a debate here.

with the injection, the animal doesn't even know what is happening. they are calm and peaceful to the end.

with the gas chamber, the animals know exactly what is happening, and their last moments of life are filled with terror and dispair.

anyone that thinks the gas chambers are acceptable are simply heartless. we don't even use them on murderers, and these animals didn't do anything wrong.

i don't even understand why the discussion is occurring, other than the fact that the shelters may save $10 putting the animal down.

I'LL PAY THE $10!! stop causing these innocent animals to die like that. if you're going to kill them, at least make it in as gentle a way as possible.

i can't believe this is even a discussion.

some people - especially "Get real | 9:36 a.m" have absolutely no soul. can't even believe you said that. nothing "appropriate" about gassing. you need a lot of prayer to fix your heart, dude. good luck with that.

Confused | 11:27 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

CO poisoning is quiet and peacful for humans but torture for animals??? I don't understand. Can someone please explain? Maybe we should just hook a hose up to a car outside and pump the CO into the cages.

John Harvey | 11:42 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

As has been suggested by one other poster why not use a sleeping gas first, and then the lethal one? How much extra would it cost?

Um, | 11:44 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

People need to be responsible for their own pets. It's not up to those who don't own or have pets. You folks are beating up yourselves over your own personal pet problems. You who are animal owners are too blame.

re - The society | 6:19 a.m. | 11:54 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

["Pets are animals in captivity and grossly abused because we humans do not understand their use and meaning in their lives. It's a form of slavery in the animal world and they don't belong in homes."]

if you are talking about domesticated dogs, you really have no clue. these are animals bred for living with humans - it's what they want. and if you think it's a form of slavery, come meet my dogs. if anything, I'm their slave. they have their own room, with beds - and cable tv on the animal planet. they go outside whenever they want and live very well. and they are always glad to see me and they love me unconditionally. If I left them, they would be heartbroken, as would I.

get a dog, live with it and love it, and then tell me the dog is a slave.

so many clueless people.... maybe you are thinking of michael vick?

Shelter Employee | 11:56 a.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I've euthanized a few hundred animals in gas chambers, and here's my experience. The gas is odorless and most of the animals really don't seem to know whats going on, though they hate being in a small space with other frightened animals. Cats actually usually deal with it quite well - their heads wobble and they quietly pass out. Only a few of the wilder or smarter animals seem to have a sixth sense about what is happening, and they cry.
For the employees it is psychologically traumatic no matter how peaceful - though, like cops or medics we naturally develop ways of shielding ourselves emotionally. One of the most difficult parts is continuing to be civil to people to purposely breed their dogs because they are valuable purebreds, and/or they make sure all their pups go to carefully selected homes. The math is simple - there are more dogs and cats then there are homes for dogs and cats. Your pups or kittens may go to good homes but they are pushing other animals into the gas chambers. And surprise, the chambers always contain beautiful purebreds of every kind, even the breed you are producing. Please, please stop.

re - Confused | 11:27 a.m | 12:00 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

["CO poisoning is quiet and peacful for humans but torture for animals??? I don't understand. Can someone please explain? Maybe we should just hook a hose up to a car outside and pump the CO into the cages."]

animals have a better sense of these things than humans. that's why many times a pet will wake up a homeowner, saving thier life, because the animal can sense a problem. but with injection, the pet is being loved and cared for and doesn't worry about danger.

if a wild animal cannot be injected, just knock them out with a tranq gun before injecting them. gas chambers are horrific.

re: not even debatable | 12:03 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

How do you know that the animal knows exactly what's happening to them? How do you know that their last moments are filled with terror and despair?

How can you say that "Get real" has no soul?

Your argument is based on emotion not facts! The facts are these... When people get CO poisoning, they don't even know what's happening!! How is it any different for animals??

Do you really think that getting injected with lethal poison is THAT much better?

Give me a break!!

matt | 12:06 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Wow, you really picked a good topic this time. Spade and neuter the pet if you can't afford more of them

Anonymous | 12:09 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

What a one sided article. This should be an editorial, not a supposedly informative article on the options. The author obviously is one sided in the descriptions of each method. Just look at the use of different adjectives of the method and the employees.

Sarah Nichole | 12:22 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I would just like to urge anybody who is thinking of getting a dog or cat to look at the local shelters first. I adopted my dog about a year ago, and he's the sweetest, most loving little guy you've ever seen. He'll put up a bit of a fight when I grind his nails, but he rarely barks and he has no record of ever haven bitten anybody, even when young toddlers were grabbing him and tugging him every which way.

Many animals at the shelters are just looking for somebody to love them and give them some attention and affection after being abandoned by their previous owners. All they want is a loving home. And in my experience, mutts make friendlier pets than purebreeds, though that's not always the case.

In addition to looking at adoption, please, spay or neuter your pets. There are so many pets out there that already need good homes. These two things alone will save so many pets from being put down.

Collette | 12:26 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

One method is humane. The other is not.

When is it EVER morally right to cause pain when there is a viable alternative? (as in this case, there is)

What price should we put on doing the right thing? What price should we put on doing the humane thing?

There is no gray area area here. Animals will have to be killed in shelters for one reason or another. But to choose a method that we KNOW causes those animals terror, pain and suffering in their final minutes is morally reprehensible and inexcusable.

The directors of these shelters should be embarrassed to admit their lack of humane compassion, their apathy, and their complete lack of imagination.

Other shelters have faced this same challenge and overcome it. Enoch city shelter is a recent and shining example of such a turnaround.

In this day and age there is NO excuse for this barbarity to exist.

Re: shelter employee | 12:26 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Thank You for providing some real, non emotional information to this argument.

The reason we don't give the animals sleeping gas first it because they wouldn't know the difference between that and the CO (Carbon Monoxide).

CO is oderless, and the sensation to the animal is that it is simply falling asleep. That's why CO is sooo dangerous to humans, they don't know that they are being poisoned if it leaks into their house. They simply fall asleep and die!!!

The chamber is just as humane, if not more so, than the injection. Those of you arguing otherwise are arguing based off of feeling rather than logic.

whackos | 1:46 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I totally agree that animals can sense our intentions. I don't care how much of a cold blooded killer you are, if you are holding that animal in your arms at the time of injection, it knows full well that nothing good is about to happen.

On the other hand, an animal that is simply being transfered from one enclosure to the next with no human contact can't possibly know what is going on. They just get sleepy

One of the chief whackos seems to be Anne Davis, who wants to torture all shelter employees for the shortcomings of the general public. Hey Anne, why does the thought of shleter employees being emotionally traumatized make you feel better about animal deaths?

common sense | 1:52 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

There are alternatives to killing feral cats, unfortunately not for Sandy however because although Salt Lake City, Unincorporated Salt Lake County, West Valley City, Taylorsville, St. George, Ivins, and other Utah cities have endorsed Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), the method is still not embraced by Sandy City and others. TNR is an effective way to reduce cat numbers and keep them out of shelters to begin with. But unfortunately some draconian local governments are still complacent with old ineffective models which mean more animals in shelters being killed every year.

Shame on me!! | 1:53 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

People today are ridculous. Where I live we just take them out and shoot them. Works great. Why don't we put this energy into protecting and feeding our needy children today. I am ready to join with you all in this cause and when we have feed the last starving kid in this world. I will then focus my energy and efforts on animals.

Anonymous | 2:24 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

to --- re: not even debatable | 12:03 p.m.

["How do you know that the animal knows exactly what's happening to them? How do you know that their last moments are filled with terror and despair? How can you say that "Get real" has no soul?
Your argument is based on emotion not facts! The facts are these... When people get CO poisoning, they don't even know what's happening!! How is it any different for animals??"]

because the animal knows it is trapped in a little chamber. does it know it's going to die? maybe not. does it know it's scared and maybe terrified? certainly.

should the last moments of that animal's life be filled with terror and anxiety? or filled with tenderness and compassion? anyone with a heart knows the answer.

How do I say poster "get real" has no soul? He says terror and anxiety at death is ok for innocent animals. no soul, dude. what do you say? compassion or terror? it's your choice...

and you say "Your argument is based on emotion not facts". terror and compassion are emotions! this ENTIRE ISSUE is one of emotion.

Re: Collette | 2:27 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

No.. we don't KNOW that animals being gassed feel Terror and Suffering more so compared to those getting injected with lethal poison!!!

How do you know it's "barbarity"??? Based on what??

CO is very dangerous to humans because we can't smell it. When people die of carbon monoxide poisoning, they fall asleep and never wake up. They never know what hit them. Why would it be any different for an animal? The answer is quite obvious, it wouldn't!!

Horrible Way to end it!!! | 2:33 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I will never donate to a shelter that practices cruelly stabbing their animals to death with poisonous syringes!!! That's the same way we kill MURDERERS!!! Are our pets MURDERERS???

No!!

Then they shouldn't be treated like them!!!

I'd rather they die peacefully in their sleep from CO!

(I'm exaggerating for effect in case you didn't notice... This is how ridiculous you all sound saying how awful the CO chamber is!)

Xavier Fromgaurd Jimminy | 2:34 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Let the PETA people raise and care for all these animals if they insist on keeping them all alive.

Anonymous | 2:43 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

TO --- Re: shelter employee | 12:26 p.m

["The chamber is just as humane, if not more so, than the injection. Those of you arguing otherwise are arguing based off of feeling rather than logic."]

obviously you are neither a shelter employee nor have a family pet. guaranteed. so you shouldn't even be commenting here, especially when you make such blatantly incorrect statements.

if you're going to use a chamber, then trank them and then gas them. how can you possibly say that putting a terrified animal into a closed chamber is the same as lying them down and showing them compassion while they think they are getting their bordatello shot?

no legitimate dog owner would ever let anyone put their dog into a gas chamber to die.

the difference between the chamber and the shot is their last few minutes on this earth. the shot is administered with compassion and the animal is fairly calm. the chamber is a terror cell and the animal is freaked out, terrified.

i really don't see how anyone can possibly compare the two methods and say they are the same... must not own a dog, that's for sure.

to Re: shelter employee | 12:26 | 2:46 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

["The reason we don't give the animals sleeping gas first it because they wouldn't know the difference between that and the CO (Carbon Monoxide)."]

that's why you trank them first - so they are asleep when you put them in the chamber.

it's not the CO2. It's the chamber.

which way would you rather die? in your sleep, or being dragged into an oven and listening to gas flow in to it? terrorized, or at peace?

Amen Whackos... | 2:50 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

... nuf said!!!!

Bill Baumgardner Sr. | 2:59 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Do any of you animal worshippers remember how they slit the throats of sheep when they were made an offering in the Lord's Tabernacle? YES, the Lord sanctions the killing of animals for many reasons, so PLEASE get off of this kick of thinking we are not supposed to kill them. God created them for us to EAT, RIDE, & use for WORKING etc. OK? And, YES, they have a spirit just as we do & live on in the Spirit World just as we do, so you will see your pets again. Thank you for posting this TRUTH, "IF" you do.

Dorene Simons | 3:24 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

I lived in Utah for a while and am well acquanted with its Mormon History. A/C of that and the tenets of the Church(re: animals' place in the eternal perspective), I was (and am) shocked at the total lack of compassion and love for animals! This is barbaric!!!

buzz | 3:48 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

All we know about putting down animals by injection is that they first go to sleep. Then they die without making a movement or sound, which makes us feel better. It's just nicer for us to not have to watch or listen to the process.

Are the animals feeling peaceful? Do they feel pain while the poison is doing its work? If they could move, would they? If they could "scream", would they?

We don't know.

Doodles | 4:13 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

The reporter here should be fired for her volatile handling of a controversial subject. This was supposed to be a news story, not an opinionated, overly adjective-laden criticism of an animal shelter. Shame on the editor for allowing this story to be printed anywhere except the editorial page. Bad Form.

Unreal | 4:14 p.m. Sept. 28, 2009

Of course...as always...someone had to pull LDS history or doctrine in. I wonder...what would Moses do? Was Jesus anti PETA when he drove the evil spirits into the swine that all drowned? This discussion is ridicules if you think about it. Something has to be done. Forced death is inhumane by nature anyway. As least they aren't being slaughtered and eaten like in Korea!

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