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(c) An animal impounded at a city animal shelter may only be euthanized by using a
barbiturate or derivative substance approved for that purpose by the Federal Food and
Drug Administration and administered under the direction of a licensed veterinarian. This
section does not apply to action authorized by Subsection (a) of this section. (Ord. 26024)
(Dallas Animal Services, n.d.).
The task of euthanasia is narrowed down even more within the citys department at Dallas
Animal Services (DAS) which created the Euthanasia Process (Appendix A). This five page
document establishes uniform guidelines for performing euthanasia within DAS and its Adoption
Center (City of Dallas, 2013).
The city of Dallas did an outstanding job in creating the Euthanasia Process. The
guidelines are very thorough with double-checks in place to reduce the potential for errors in
performing this irreversible procedure. The only real area of deficiency found in DASs
Euthanasia Process is the failure to address how the animals should be handled during the
euthanasia procedure. Smith-Blackmore (2013) emphasizes that the process of ending an
animals life begins long before sodium pentobarbital is injected. The manner in which [an]
animal is removed from the cage, transported to the euthanasia room, and handled on arrival sets
the tone for the quality of the euthanasia [to be] provided (p. 481). Based on SmithBlackmores recommendations, an Action Plan to address this deficiency would include:
In the time prior to the euthanasia procedure, euthanasia technicians should utilize
food, affection, and gentle talking to reassure animals that are amenable to these
overtures.
Fearful, fractious and unsocialized animals should be given a sedative to calm them
prior to handling for euthanasia.
To prevent additional stress, other animals should not be present when an animal is
euthanized. Additionally, the euthanasia room should be thoroughly cleaned with an
odor-neutralizing solution before bringing another animal into the room for the
procedure.
When euthanizing a mother and young, the mother should be euthanized first,
immediately followed by the offspring. The intent is to reduce the stress a mother
animal experiences when separated from her litter (Smith-Blackmore, 2013).
Euthanasia is a difficult and heart wrenching method for addressing pet overpopulation
and unwanted pets. Animal shelters and shelter personnel have a moral and ethical duty to
perform this unpleasant task in a humane and conscientious manner. Sound guidelines and
protocols help train all personnel to provide a humane death for those animals that must meet
that end.
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