[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 736 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 736

 Expressing opposition to the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, 
  nitrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, or other gases to euthanize shelter 
  animals and support for State laws that require the use of the more 
                 humane euthanasia by injection method.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 19, 2012

Mr. Moran submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing opposition to the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, 
  nitrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, or other gases to euthanize shelter 
  animals and support for State laws that require the use of the more 
                 humane euthanasia by injection method.

Whereas 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 cats and dogs are placed into the care of between 
        4,000 to 6,000 local animal shelters each year in the United States;
Whereas nearly half of these animals are euthanized each year because adoptive 
        homes are not able to be found for them;
Whereas to be considered humane, a euthanasia technique must expeditiously cause 
        painless unconsciousness, followed by respiratory then cardiac arrest, 
        and ultimately death;
Whereas animals euthanized in gas chambers are often forced into confined areas 
        with several other animals, causing unnecessary stress and aggressive 
        behavior;
Whereas the use of gas chambers can take over 30 minutes to end an animal's life 
        and sometimes does not result in the death of all the animals inside;
Whereas the use of gas chambers can cause a loss of consciousness and brain 
        function in an animal only after the animal's vital organs shut down, 
        resulting in prolonged suffering and distress;
Whereas old, pregnant, neonatal, and injured animals are often biologically 
        unable to absorb the gas as readily as larger or healthier animals, 
        which can prolong the stress and trauma they experience before death;
Whereas highly toxic carbon monoxide, the most common chemical used in animal 
        gas chambers, is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United 
        States, and, even at low levels, can result in many long-term effects 
        including impaired memory, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, 
        heart irregularities, and brain damage;
Whereas gas chambers threaten the safety of animal shelter workers, causing the 
        death of at least one human and severely injuring several others in 
        recent years;
Whereas a viable and cost-effective alternative to the use of gas chambers 
        exists in the form of euthanasia by injection using sodium 
        pentobarbital;
Whereas the use of euthanasia by injection causes animals to lose consciousness 
        and brain function before their vital organs shut down, decreasing 
        suffering and resulting in rapid clinical death;
Whereas the use of injectable euthanasia agents is considered the most reliable 
        and preferable method of animal euthanasia by the American Humane 
        Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National 
        Animal Control Association, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, 
        the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the 
        Humane Society of the United States; and
Whereas at least 18 States and the District of Columbia either have laws banning 
        the use of gas chambers or choose not to use the method to euthanize 
        shelter animals: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses disapproval of the use of gas chambers to 
        euthanize shelter animals;
            (2) supports the enactment of State laws requiring the use 
        of euthanasia by injection with sodium pentobarbital as the 
        standard method of euthanasia for all animal shelters; and
            (3) encourages States to allow licensed shelters to 
        purchase necessary euthanasia drugs, such as sodium 
        pentobarbital, subject to appropriate training and 
        certification.
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