Euthanasia without anesthesia
Some of Maryland’s animal shelter’s euthanize animals without first anesthetizing them – all because of a loophole in state law.
A bill providing shelters access to anesthetic drugs was approved by the House of Delegates last week, and the Humane Society of the United States is urging the Senate to quickly approve the measure before the legislative session ends April 7.
Introduced by Del. Jon Cardin, the bill would close a loophole in state law that denies Maryland animal shelters the ability to sedate animals before they are euthanized.
Current Maryland law grants permits to animal shelters to obtain, possess and administer the drug used to euthanize animals. However, the law does not authorize shelters to obtain the anesthetic drugs needed prior to euthanizing certain animals, such as those who are dangerous or loose in the field, according to HSUS.
Until 2006, the Drug Enforcement Administration granted licenses to shelters to use sedating drugs, but when it learned a state law prohibited it, it rescinded those licenses. That left Maryland shelters with no choice but to euthanize some animals without first anesthetizing them, HSUS says, leading to horrific accounts of animal suffering and risks to shelter staff and public safety.
"It's a shame that we live in a world where adoptable animals are euthanized, but it's absolutely unconscionable that a legal technicality means shelters in Maryland can't do so humanely and safely," said Del. Cardin. "This is a common sense and common decency measure and I hope my colleagues in the Senate move as swiftly as the House of Delegates in approving it."
Comments
SHAMEFUL! Maryland cant get anything right. I am allmost wordless over this stupidity.
Posted by: Bill | March 26, 2008 1:04 PM
Yes Maryland should be sedating before euthanizing
I was a euthanasia tech for several years
the one thing that made it possible for me to do my job in good conscience was that our animal shelter worked hard to stem the flow of unwanted animals
we had a full-time veterinarian and required all adopted animals to be spayed or neutered
we had a public outreach employee who did presentations and wrote articles enlightening the public on spaying and neutering, local leash laws, vaccination and worming schedules, jnutrition, training of pets...you name it
As soon as the animals arrived at the shelter we vaccinated and wormed every puppy and kitten and adult animals of unknown medical history It was not necessarily cost effective if the animal was not adopted and eventually needed to be euthanized to make room for new animals but it was the humane thing to do to protect all the animals in the shelter and reduce respiratory illnesses so common in shelters We were with the Humane Society of the United States strictly non-profit and we adopted out animals for under $50 ($20 for male cats up to$40 for female dogs reflective of the cost for spaying or neutering and for the species dogs required more expensive anesthesia for surgery)
The people who worked in the shelter were all animal lovers and compassionate It is important for the public not to villify the shelter staff or animal control officers People need to put the blame where it lies...with pet owners who do not spay and neuter ( quality breeders excepted )
I notice the cost of spaying and neutering has gone up astronomically and wonder if this is being regulated It is important to keep these procedures affordable if we are to control the unwanted pet population There simply are not enough homes for all of them
Posted by: msee | March 26, 2008 1:38 PM
I learned the hard way about euthanasia without anesthesia. It was the first time and I was forced to put one of my cat to sleep. I thought he would just drift-off to to sleep. The vet did not tell me that the heart is stopped while still awake.
Never again.
Posted by: bluhawkk | March 26, 2008 1:46 PM
Thanks for writing about this important issue. Very few shelters have a licensed vet on staff. Vets can still provide sedation before euthanasia. (So that commenter should file a complaint about a vet who wouldn't administer sedation first.) The real problem on this has been the DEA just shutting down permits before seeking appropriate alternatives. Everyone, PLEASE pressure state senators to support this legislation!
Posted by: cecil lady | March 27, 2008 4:53 AM
This is heartbreaking.
What is the update on this law?
Did it pass or is anesthesia still withheld??
Posted by: DM | January 10, 2009 7:54 PM