The Council will receive a verbal briefing during its Monday work session on euthanasia methods that are used at the animal shelter. Since it is a work session, not a regular meeting, any actions taken will be limited.
 
The work session will be squeezed between an executive session to discuss litigation involving our investment in the Texas Municipal Power Agency and our regular meeting that will start at 7.
 
I presume Richard Briley, Managing Director of Health and Code, who also oversees Animal Services and the animal shelter, will give a verbal account of the memo that he sent to Council and the city manager earlier in the week.
 
There are those that contend the only humane method of euthanasia is lethal injection. Yet the law and veterinary professionals do not agree. In the memo, Mr Briley states, referring to the practices at the city animal shelter, "Euthanasia is performed either through injection of sodium pentobarbital or respiration of carbon monoxide. Both methods are administered in accordance with all applicable state laws and veterinary practice, and both methods are considered by the State of Texas and the AVMA to be equally humane."
 
While Garland residents have voiced concerns and support, many of the loudest are not Garland residents. And there are defenders of the animal shelter that are not Garland residents, such as this man in Richardson:
 

From the Dallas Morning News, Letters to the Editor, Sept 28:
 
The Dallas Morning News speaks of the cruel and unusual operation of Garland's animal shelter.
 
For many years, I was familiar with the operation. To my knowledge, nothing has changed. When the time came for me to have a 15-year-old pet put down because of pain and suffering from cancer. I took her to the people I knew would show her the loving end she deserved.
 
I watched as they placed her in the chamber. I saw through the window as she first looked around, then laid down as if to nap. It was over in seconds. She did not panic. She was not in pain. My friends led me back up front and sat with me as I wept. Finally, I was composed enough to leave.
 
Does this sound like the work of unusually cruel people?
 

 
Links to various stories on this issue, including one in Saturday's DMN, are posted here.