Please go to the article to leave your comment. Seems the ones of us who are known are unable to submit comments. This article is one sided and does not hold all the facts. Gassing is inhumane. A package was presented to council which they seem to have ignored or haven't read. They received letters, emails, and a letter from the Humane Society of Canada.

The Humane Society of Canada Letter can be seen at the link below.

http://www.humanesociety.com/pets/pet-info/1446-the-humane-society-of-canada-urges-the-city-of-duncan-to-euthanize-homeless-cats-humanely.html

We need more voices.
Thanks.

Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial
Councils poised to give gas box their blessings

Commitees in Duncan and North Cowichan are recommending their communities continue to euthanize feral cats through the use of a gas box. This comes after complaints the practice was inhumane.
Mike D'Amour/file

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By Mike Damour - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial

Published: September 24, 2009 4:00 PM
Updated: September 24, 2009 4:23 PM

In a move that will have cat lovers fuming, it appears North Cowichan and Duncan will continue to allow the gassing of feral and stray felines.

North Cowichan’s Administration and Finance committee recently decided to recommend council continue the use of a gas box to put down wild cats.

As well, a Duncan councillor said the city will also allow the continued use of the box by Coastal Animal Services, the company contracted to look after the animals.

“A number of councillors and staff witnessed the euthanization of a feral cat (via the gas box) because until then we’d only heard one part of the argument (from those who believe the practice is inhumane),” said Jesse Winfrey.

The two-time councillor said there was no resolution before council to change the way feral cats are disposed.

“It was a lobby group that was making a big noise,” said Winfrey, who noted many in the lobby group do not live in the valley.

“They have one argument (that the practice is inhumane) but we haven’t heard from anyone else and frankly, what was seen by councillors was a whole lot different than the picture they painted.”

Winfrey was among those who witnessed the gas box in action and said he had no problem with the procedure.

“Wild animals are not pets and will react to you differently and need to be treated differently,” he said.

“One of the notions is euthanization by carbon dioxide is traumatizing and causes great stress and produces spasmodic responses — well, we saw nothing of that.”

The process involves putting a caged cat inside a box filled with compressed CO2.

The cat eventually loses consciousness and dies.

More than 70 stray or feral cats were euthanized via the gas box method last year in North Cowichan and Duncan.

That’s too many, said Lalena Scott, who recently participated in the Great Lake Walk and raised about $1,700 for the Cowichan Cat Rescue organization.

“I feel it’s a rather drastic measure that is only going to create a temporary solution to a long-term problem,” the Crofton resident said.

“It’s very unfortunate for the cats.”

Scott argues other municipalities created bylaws enforcing owners to take responsibility for neutering their pets.

“I would rather see Coastal Animal Services, the SPCA and Cowichan Cat Rescue, along with the Municipality of North Cowichan work together to come up with a realistic plan that is humane,” she said.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/cowichannewsleader/news/61286197.html

Thanks
Char Olson