Since the Council chose to not broadcast citizen comments that come at the end of the meeting, and since I wasn't at the last meeting because of the flu-bug that is making the rounds (not H1N1, regular flu is showing up very early this year), I apparently missed a number of speakers that wanted to challenge one of the euthanasia methods at our animal shelter. Today the Dallas Morning News reports that seven people spoke during citizen comments.
 
Broadly speaking, the real problem is an old one: people not being responsible for their pets and allowing litters of unwanted newborn animals. Even with all the public service announcements to have animals spayed or neutered and with such local requirements prior to adoption, an immense problem of lost or abandoned pets persists. One way or another, virtually all those uncared for or unwanted animals are taken to the local animal shelter.

Animal services officer Rick Johnson cleans a cage at the Abe Tuggle Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Garland. Photo by KYE R. LEE/DMN

 
Once they arrive some have the chance of being found or adopted. The reality is that far more are not. Eventually time runs out and those animals are euthanized.
 
The Garland animal shelter charges $80 for vaccinations and sterilizations, which is absolutely necessary to not compound the problem. However, that cost may be a barrier that reduces the number of adoptions. Today's DMN Garland Blog mentions the Garland Animal Sponsorship Program that attempts to overcome that challenge. Donations are used to pay the costs of vaccinating and sterilizing so more animals can be adopted. Our animal services department also works with adoption groups and PetHarbor to boost the rates of adoption.
 
Those animals that are not adopted face euthanasia by lethal injection or carbon monoxide. It is the latter method that essentially comprised the DMN story today. The gulf of disagreement between the sides that feel the method is humane and those that disagree is extremely wide. The breadth of the split may come down to the breadth of ways the technique is implemented. Opponents point to videos to support their case while proponents similarly point to videos. The amount of carbon monoxide exposure, the type of exposure, and the presence or absence of other elements such as hot fumes and other gases probably explains much of the gulf.
 
The American Veterinary Medical Association says (pg. 9): "... euthanasia has been accomplished by use of 3 methods for generating CO: (1) chemical interaction of sodium formate and sulfuric acid, (2) exhaust fumes from idling gasoline internal combustion engines, and (3) commercially compressed CO in cylinders. The first 2 techniques are associated with problems such as production of other gases, achieving inadequate concentrations of carbon monoxide, inadequate cooling of the gas, and maintenance of equipment. Therefore, the only acceptable source is compressed CO in cylinders." [Emphasis added.] Only the latter, compressed carbon monoxide (CO), is used at the Garland shelter. All recommendations from the AVMA are followed. Dr Robert J Neunzig, DVM, wrote for Compendium, a magazine for veterinarians, his observations on the technique.
 
Those on both sides of this issue will surely agree that we humans need to be more conscious of our actions toward our pets — and their reproductive capacity — and to not be the reason that an innocent animal pays with its life for our lack of responsibility.
 
[UPDATE Sept 9: Katie Fairbank's readers ask if something can be done to stop use of carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Sept 16: WFAA says group calls euthanasia method inhumane]

[UPDATE Sept 19: DMN charges shelter illegally killed animals]

[UPDATE Sept 22: WFAA says mayor to probe allegations]

[UPDATE Oct 2: Fairbanks announces city to transition away from carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Oct 3: Expanded news on transition away from carbon monoxide]

[UPDATE Oct 7: Garland council votes to restrict carbon monoxide] [See rebuttal here.]

[UPDATE Oct 20: Richard removes carbon monoxide chamber and protesters to appear at Garland council meeting]

[UPDATE Nov 10: Kittens no longer at shelter]

[UPDATE Dec 6: Euthanasia change on target]

[UPDATE Dec 27: Columnist witnesses carbon monoxide euthanasia]