Gassing shelters!?
 

You guys! I had no idea that "gassing shelters" even existed! From what I read so far this morning they sound totally inhumane, like torture-til-u-die chambers or something out of the holocaust.

This breaks my heart to hear this still goes on in many states. What do you guys think about it? Just the picture of a puppy chocking and whining inside a tight death chamber makes me want to cry :'(

If by "gassing" you mean "CO2"/Controlled atmosphere killing, it's not really all that bad. Though that's the only gas I'm aware of. Is there another type?

AR nutters over exaggerated gas chambers to the point where it sounds like someones ripping the animals legs off or something.

The website I was reading on said they use carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Thats not the part that scares me as much as the shelter workers statement of watching the animals be shoved in multiple at a time, cry, fight and scream until they finally die http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/frown.png

Just sounds like a scary way to spend your last minutes

I coukd be readin the extreme peoples web sites but it says the carbon monoxide can cause them to vomit, convulse and their organs start to shut down before they even die

What the ?!

How is being deprived of oxygen, and choking yourself to death by breathing, be considered humane? It can take up to 45 minutes for death to come by CMP. I doubt a shelter would go above 16% and endanger themselves.The process involves convulsing, nervous system shutting down, vomiting, and dizziness, that is what they feel while slowly being suffocated to death, and not even knowing what is happening to them.

Research mode!http://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/read2.gifhttp://www.pitbull-chat.com/images/smilies/coffee.gif

Right!? Thats what I thought! I went into research mode too! I hope its not as sickening as the websites make it sound but I dont see how it could not be sickening...

Though this does sadden me, I have taken a somewhat unconventional, possibly unsavory (to some), stance on the root issue of the overpopulation problem. To me it is far too easy to acquire a dog and even easier to get rid of them. With all of the shelters, humane societies, and rescue groups people discard their pets so nonchalantly *knowing* that these organizations will find them a better home. People are ignorant (most are by choice) to the fact that the percentages are not in the dogs favor. By nature I am not a cold, callous person (I would save them all if I could) but I think these organizations perpetuate and promote overpopulation by making it easy to discard a pet in somewhat good conscience and therefore believe that they should cease to exist. Have a pound and if the animal is not claimed within 5 days it will be put down. No adoptions through the pound either. Make people find homes for their own dogs if they don't want them. Make it take time, money and work (maybe even some guilt) to get rid of a dog. There should not be an easy out like there is. Make people actually take responsibility for their choices.

I understand the need for euth in shelters but doesn't gassing them to death in a small chamber seem extreme? It just seems cruel to me.

It is not the most humane way. Though I would rather it be that than starving to death, being injured and dying a slow and painful one drawn out over weeks if not months. It's also more cost effective than euth. by injection. Which is a driving factor behind what methods are used.

I'm not sure how anyone could say "it's not that bad".. gassing is a HORRIBLE way for them to die and many states have made it illegal because of how inhumane it is. Especially considering that the shelters that use them pile the animals on top of one another (which can obviously cause fights) and then gas them. Those animals die, they open it back up and add more right on top. They scream bloody murder til they finally die.. it's awful. Just YouTube it if you're brave. HBO just did a documentary and a section of it was dedicated to gassing (it's called One Nation Under Dog).

No matter how an animal dies ( unless sedated I guess) there is convulsing and whatnot. Death is almost always an uncomfortable process and there's not much you can do about it besides make it quick. By the time all the convulsions hit the brain is usually dead anyway I guess. I'm not saying this is the best way, I don't know much about it, but no matter the method life does not go easy.

Carbon dioxide, that is to say CO2, makes sense and is typically what people use to euthanize animals meant to be eaten by other animals, like the rats, mice, chicks, rabbits, ect for reptile, whole prey raw, and zoo feeding supply. The animals essentially passes out and dies in it's sleep. That's it.


Carbon monoxide however, is a pretty messed up way to go and is pretty unpleasant

Gassing involves throwing as many animals as possible (and most shelters do mix dogs & cats) into a little box, shutting the lid, then turning the gas on. Not exactly "quick".

Perhaps I've been lucky but I've seen quite a few euthanasia's and they have always been extremely peaceful.

Here, for anyone who thinks it's humane. This is graphic, just a warning.

Like I said before, it matter what methods and gasses they actually use. Do I agree with stuffing as much dogs as possible into a box? No. But saying that the action of gassing in and of itself is bad because some people utterly fail in what they use as a method doesn't make much sense in this case. It's like saying that all chaining is inhumane or all breeding is inhumane. There are proper and improper ways to do it

I didn't mean to say that whatever they do is humane. Like I said I don't know much about it. I said no matter what it should be quick. If carbon DIoxide makes them pass out before the end then great, go that way.

I haven't seen a lot of dogs euthanized, and of course I recognize that sedating and poisoning or whatever the vet used is probably the easiest for the dog but like I said, these shelters are not always concerned with easy, more often concerned with trying to keep afloat. That and sheer numbers. I still say that if you're not willing to do it yourself you shouldn't pawn it off on somebody else just to be rid of a dog.

My shelter doesn't gas, but they kill them using the heart stick method which isn't much better and they killed 25,000 last year. Not sure what the problem of sedating them and doing then Od'ing on pentobarbital like the vets do when you take your pet in. More humane IMO. I realize it may cost more, but they are living creatures and at least deserve to die with a little dignity.

This. And at least one web site said lethal injection is about the same price, sometimes cheaper. Not that it matters. I realize theyre strapped for money but thats no excuse to basically torture a dog to death.

Im just shocked because before today I didnt know this happened, because in AZ where Im originally from, its illegal.

I cant watch the video, i dont want to see it but thanks for posting that Kady. I think people need to see how cruel it truly is.