Oct 1, 2009 10:51 pm US/Central
Local Animal Shelter Changes Way It Puts Pets Down
Reporting
Jack Fink
GARLAND (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
-
-
David Silverman/Getty Images
A big change is on the way at Garland's animal shelter.
Tonight, the city says it will soon end a controversial method for euthanizing dogs and cats.
For years, the city of Garland has used carbon monoxide to euthanize most of its dogs and cats.
Because there are so many animals brought here, the city must put about 16 of them to sleep each day.
But now, after recent public outcry, the city says it will soon use lethal injection to put down most animals.
The city has used carbon monoxide for years because it was more efficient, more animals could be euthanized at once with fewer employees.
But the city says a new dispatch system will free up another employee needed for the lethal injections.
While the use of carbon monoxide for most dogs and cats is legal under Texas law, and allowed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, animals that are younger than four months old or that are old or sick, must be euthanized by lethal injection.
That's because experts say it takes longer for those animals to die with carbon monoxide.
Last month, the city faced 20 allegations that in 2007, shelter employees used carbon monoxide on animals that should have had lethal injection.
Jason Chessher is the Deputy Director of Health for the city of Garland. "We did an exhaustive investigation into those, and based on records, we are comfortable in saying that one allegation appears to be substantiated. It's not one that came to our attention at the time."
Chessher says the employee involved no longer works here.
In the past three years, the city says it has disciplined employees seven times for using the wrong method of euthanasia.
Wild animals will still be put down with carbon monoxide because it's safer for staff members.
The city says it has developed programs to encourage adoption, so that it won't have to euthanize as many animals.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
