Pennsylvania House Bans Gas Chambers
Latest news on PA, it seems the senate after the 3rd time
has now passed a Gassing Ban on Shelter Animals, now that's left is for the
Governor to sign off. Will we see PA become the 20th State to ban Gas Chambers
for unwanted and homeless animals? Will NC be the last state to ban Gas
Chambers due to their close relationship with Dr. Hauser? Why would any state
want to Gas an animal to death after knowing what we know now?
The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny, passed
189 to 6, and now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate.
Current Pennsylvania
law makes it difficult for animal shelters to procure the drugs needed to
euthanize animals humanely, because the drugs can only be licensed to
veterinarians, leaving the animals to suffer more painful and gruesome options
such as gas chambers. The new legislation, HB 2630, bans gas chambers and also
provides meaningful access to sodium pentobarbital to help ensure that when
animals must be euthanized in shelters across the Commonwealth it is done as
humanely as possible. It also imposes
penalties for violations of the act.
“The swift passage of HB 2630 means the tragic euthanasia of
cats and dogs by gas chambers in Pennsylvania will soon come to an end,” said
Rep. Maher immediately after passage. “I’m excited by the overwhelming passage
in the House and hopeful for quick Senate action.”
On Wednesday (Oct. 3) , the Pennsylvania House is expected
to take up the Costs of Care of Seized Animals Act, HB 2409, a bill stating
that owners have a financial obligation for the care for their pets. In
addition, owners will be held responsible for costs of care if their animals
are seized for cruelty or neglect. By shifting the burden for the cost of care
from an investigating agency to the alleged abuser, the act will encourage the
vigorous investigation and enforcement of animal cruelty and reduce the
financial costs to local taxpayers.
Facts:
The few animal shelters inPennsylvaniawhich use out of date
carbon monoxide chambers as a method of euthanasia do so because they have no
access to a veterinarian to provide the necessary euthanasia drugs. HB 2630
will allow shelters across the Commonwealth the ability to procure euthanasia
drugs themselves, at a lower cost – both practically and emotionally – over
operating a carbon monoxide chamber.
The animals euthanized in shelters are often old, young, ill
or injured; none of these animals can be humanely euthanized in a gas chamber.
Even healthy adult dogs and cats will suffer stress just by being placed in a
gas chamber, making their death inhumane.
Gas chambers pose great physical and psychological harm to
staff. Staff must handle, transport and place animals into the chamber, putting
them at risk of bites and scratches. Animal care workers have also been injured
and killed by carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic gas.
Studies have proven that it is more expensive to operate a
gas chamber than it is to purchase and use euthanasia drugs.
For more information on animal welfare legislation in
Pennsylvania, please visit humanesociety.org/pennsylvania.
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