Euthanasia
Who performs euthanasia? Employees; CO2
This misleadingly says that CO2 is the only method of euthanasia and all euthanasia is performed by employees. That is not the case. The great majority of euthanasia, even of some feral cats, is performed by a veterinarian by lethal injection. Some feral cats and small animals such as rabbits (rarely) are euthanized by CO2.
What method is employed? CO2 for cats/small animals; approx. 25% of 411 cats; 25 dogs 2005; 12 dogs 2206; Elk Lake Vet; 660 dogs
Again, it is not true that only CO2 is used to euthanize cats. The figures (above) make little sense. These are the statistics given to AAS by Don Brown:
2004 - Dogs: taken in: 740, euthanized: 8, claimed by owners or adopted: 732.
2005 - Dogs: taken in: 650, euthanized: 23, claimed by owners or adopted: 627.
In three years the only dogs that have been put down are dogs that are surrendered for destruction by their owners after an attack or by order of a court.
AAS comment: Protecting the public by destroying dangerous dogs is one of the duties of pounds, but it is not a duty of an animal welfare organization, yet the SPCA has contracts all over BC to kill dangerous dogs.
Thanks to open and interested leadership and the CRD welcoming community partnerships, the level of animal welfare is rising at the CRD pound.
2004 - Cats: taken in: 477, euthanized: 102, claimed by owners or adopted: 375.
2005 - Cats: taken in: 407, euthanized: 65, claimed by owners or adopted: 342.