Update January 27, 2012: Once again Pennsylvania legislators have failed to pass a bill that would ban archaic animal gas chambers still used to kill shelter animals in the state. S.B. 1329, the latest effort to stop the use of gas chambers to kill shelter animals, has been re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee where some observers say it is likely to die. 

Instead of simply passing a ban on gas chambers, opponents insisted on an amendment that would have gutted a key provision of the 2008 Dog Law - a prohibition on using firearms to kill dogs kept in commercial kennels or puppy mills. Under S.B. 1329 operators of commercial dog kennels, typically puppy mills, could have once again legally killed dogs by shooting them instead of using humane euthanasia. All they would need to do is claim the dog poses a risk of danger to the veterinarian or technician performing euthanasia. For more on this, read Animal Law Coalition's report below.

Maybe Pennyslvania legislators can still offer and approve a bill that would simply ban animal gas chambers and not allow the issue to be hijacked by puppy mill operators who want to be able to use guns instead of humane lethal injection to end the lives of the dogs they breed for profit.

Original report: A second bill to ban animal gas chambers is gaining traction in the Pennsylvania legislature. The bill, S.B. 1329, like S.B. 969, was introduced by Sen. Andrew Dinniman. S.B. 1329 has been approved by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and could be voted on by the full state Senate at any time.  Under S.B. 1329 carbon monoxide gas could not be used to kill animals. no method deemed only conditionally acceptable or unacceptable by the American Veterinary Medical Association could be used to kill animals.

The killing of animals "undertaken in a normal agricultural operation" would be exempt. Also, medical schools, schools of veterinary medicine, research institutions affilated with a hospital or university or USDA licensed animal research facilities would also be exempt.  

Small domestic animals defined to inlcude cats, dogs, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters, ferrets, birds, reptiles and amphibians could only be put to death by lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital or derivative administred by a licensed veterinarian or certified euthanasia technician, though "a person or humane society" can destroy a "pet animal" by use of a gun.

The bill provides for issuance of a limited license to allow animal shelters to obtain and administer euthanasia drugs and authorizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue regulations for licensing criteria and certification and oversight of certified euthanasia technicians. The bill sets forth basic criteria that must be met for the Board to issue a license for a certified euthanasia technician. 

What is concerning about this bill is that "commercial kennels" meaning large dog breeders and their veterinarians could once again use firearms to kill dogs deemed "dangerous". Yet, in 2008 the Dog Law was amended, and one of the few victories for the dogs in that new law was that commercial kennels were prohibited from shooting dogs as a means of euthanasia. 3 P.S. Sec. 459-207 This after Elmer and Ammon Zimmerman shot 88 dogs in their puppy mill because authorities requested they obtain flea treatment for the dogs. Under the law at that time their horrific actions were legal. 

S.B. 1329 would risk once again that millers would simply shoot dogs rather than provide appropriate care and treatment or humane euthanasia. As such, S.B. 1329 would seriously undermine the 2008 Dog Law.  

As for enforcement, under the bill the Board and Dept. of Agriculture can agree to allow the department to conduct inspections and otherwise monitor humane societies and animal control, including contractors tha perform euthanasia for these organizations, for compliance. Veterinarians, animal shelters and humane societies can be required to disclose all methods of euthanasia they use. The department is also authorized to conduct investigations of possible violations.

Significantly, all chambers or devices prohibited by the bill, specifically gas chambers, must be dismantled and rendered inoperative within 30 days of the effective date. 

Fines for violating the euthanasia restrictions could be up to $500 per "violation day" and up to $1,000 per violation day for second and subsequent offenses. Other violations would mean a fine of up to $350 per day for a first offense and $700 for a second and subsequent offense. The fines collected would go to the Dog Law Restricted Account.

A number of Pennsylvania jurisdictions are still using carbon monoxide gas to kill animals in their care. 

Most recently Alabama and a number of other states banned use of these cruel, medieval devices.

The AVMA is considering new euthanasia guidelines that would recommend against use of animal gas chambers for "routine euthanasia" of dogs and cats. Previously, use of gas chambers was conditionally acceptable to the AVMA, which under S.B. 1329 would make them illegal. 

In September, 2010, the National Animal Control Association (NACA) adopted a policy: "NACA considers lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital, administered by competent, trained personnel, to be the only method of choice utilized for humane euthanasia of animal shelter dogs and cats."

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians agrees, stating flatly that "the use of carbon monoxide for individual or mass companion animal euthanasia in shelters is unacceptable due to significant humane, operational and safety concerns...[C]arbon monoxide euthanasia should be banned in shelters."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Find your PA state senator here. Contact committee members and your PA state senator and urge them to end the use of cruel gas chambers to kill shelter animals by voting yes on S.B. 1329 with an amendment that also keeps in place the ban on shooting dogs by commercial kennels.