Euthanasia rules
I took a short trip out to the state fair grounds Wednesday to hear the Board of Agriculture
talk about new rules for euthanizing dogs and cats. From my story:
RALEIGH - It's not much of a choice really: lethal injection or the gas chamber.Those would be the two ways most of the 225,000 cats and dogs who meet their end in North Carolina animal shelters would be dispatched under new rules under consideration by the State Board of Agriculture.
Click here for the full story.
Of course, the reason the rules are such a big deal is that animal shelters in the state have to put about 225,000 unwanted cats and dogs to death every year, according to Ag Dept. stats. That's a fairly horrific total.
Some of those who came out to comment Wednesday said the state really needs to work on reducing the pet over-population problem rather than concentrating on the best method of disposal. And you probably wouldn't get much argument for the board. But a 2005 law compelled the board to draft the rules but didn't give a whole lot of direction when it came to spay-neuter programs and that sort of thing.
Click here to read the department's FAQ on the rules and click here to read the new rules (PDF) for yourself.
The comment period is open through the end of August, so if you want to put in your two cents, there is still time. From the FAQ page:
Send comments to David McLeod, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 1001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 or by e-mail to david.mcleod@ncmail.net.
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