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A Long Way to Go

© Sherrie Walker

Last month we looked at some of the programs various organizations have instituted to further the cause of humane education. These range from producing brochures teaching responsible pet ownership to teaching children respect and compassion for animals to starting programs in which at-risk youths work with shelter dogs in need of training. So the humane education front is covered, and everyone is taught from the cradle to be kind to animals, right? I’m afraid not.

A few days before the humane education article was published, two articles appeared on the same page of the Metropolitan section of the Dallas Morning News. The first was about a couple of issues which might (or might not) come before the voters in a neighboring state. One of those issues was whether or not to ban cockfighting. In fairness to the residents of that state, let me point out that an overwhelming majority was in favor of the ban; but why, in the 21st century, would such a thing even be in question?

That article disgusted me, but the second one made me sick at heart. It seems animal control personnel in a small town in Texas have come up with an economical method of euthanizing stray dogs and cats. They put them in an airtight cinder block building, run a hose from the exhaust pipe of an old, rusty police car into the building, and kill the unfortunate animals with carbon monoxide. While carbon monoxide is a legal form of euthanasia in Texas, (about 1/3 of states have outlawed it), shelters that use it generally buy bottled carbon monoxide. The concentration of carbon monoxide, and therefore the effect on the animals, can vary in automobile exhaust.

As terrible as the almost certain end will be, life in the shelter for these animals is almost as bad. Cats are kept in rabbit cages that have only wire floors; dogs stay in wire-fence enclosures. There is no electricity at the shelter and no 24-hour staffing. According to the city manager, however, many of the animals are “wild” and are therefore used to the “outdoor atmosphere.” He defends the unusual method of euthanasia by saying it’s safer for the animal control officers because they don’t have to come in direct contact with the animals, which they would have to do to administer an injection. Besides, it’s all the city can afford, and this is the truly sad part to the story.

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