http://www.brindleweb.com/rescuebb/viewtopic.php?t=23114&start=0

I have permission to post the letter below here, it's a letter a friend of mine sent to victoria@cbc.ca and news@cowichannewsleader.com today. This is from someone who has actually used a gas box. Karen

Subject: Cats killed at Duncan & Nanaimo Pounds

Dear Sirs,
Thank you so much for exposing what is going on in those communities.
I was volunteer Shelter Manager for Nanaimo SPCA from 1986 - 1994.
I killed many cats & kittens using a gas box (C02 container).
Most staff & volunteers did not stay in the room to watch the effect on the cats they were putting down. When we did decide to watch how cats & kittens died we were appalled.
I contacted all the vets in Nanaimo to come & view the gas box in operation. Only three out of seven took me up on the offer, but ALL vets agreed euthanize cats/kittens for us for $5 each. The vets either came to the shelter or we took the animals to them.
I held many animals for the vet while they gave them the lethal injection. All feral cats were also done by injection. All cats were tranquilized before euthanasia.It is no excuse for the business operator to say "We don't want to physically handle feral cats in case staff get bitten".
There is all kinds of equipment that was available 20 years ago to assist
in handling feral cats in safety.
Many vets are spaying/neutering feral cats for SPCAs and rescue groups without getting bitten.
In Nanaimo before we stopped using the gas box, both myself and a staff member put our heads in the box when it was loaded with C02, and it
was a horrible, painful experience. I would challenge anyone to be able to breath this stuff in for more than a few seconds.
The business man (Mr. Hughes)does not want to change methods because the gas box is cheap and not "hands on".
I'm willing to bet that his staff do what they did years ago(which they told me) which is put these poor animals in the box then leave the room as fast as possible.
Mr. Hughes operation not all that long ago stopped electrocuting dogs
because of the public outcry. This cruel method of euthanizing cats has to stop, and it's up to the people who hire his services to tell him, it's time to move into the 21st century.
Yours truly, Audrey Hill