Pennsylvania Senate Bill 672, introduced by Sen. Sean Logan would mean an end to animal gas chambers in the state. Five public shelters still use CO gas chambers to kill shelter animals.

The bill has passed the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Here is a copy of the bill with the committee's amendments.

The bill would ban the use of chloroform, ether, halothan, fluothane, or similar substance when used in an airtight chamber or plastic bag, as well as carbon monoxide from any source, in killing homeless animals.

Amendments added by the committee would exclude from this Act, the Methods of Authorized Destruction Act, "activity undertaken in a normal agricultural operation". While the Act by its terms appears to apply broadly to euthanasia of all animals held by any owner, shelter or kennel, it is not clear the law has ever been applied to animals other than those in shelters. Under the amendment the Act would no longer apply, assuming it ever did, to euthanasia methods for farm animals and horses that are not sent to slaughter.  

It should be noted the committee also added a provision making clear that if the Dept. of Agriculture suspends or revokes a kennel license under the state Dog Law, the owner or operator's limited license to obtain euthanasia drugs would be deemed revoked. Evidently, the committee believes this Act applies to kennels as well as other owners and shelters and as originally conceived to farm animals and horses. This amendment may now limit protections against cruel methods of euthanasia for farm animals and horses.  

The committee also exempted research facilities licensed under the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 2131 et seq. The Act already exempted research institutions affiliated with hospitals or universities.  

While the original Act authorized direct access by shelters and kennels to  euthanasia drugs, no regulations establishing procedures for this were ever implemented. Without a direct access license, shelters are forced to rely on a veterinarian to provide euthanasia drugs, increasing the costs and making it more difficult for shelters to perform humane euthanasia by lethal injection. 

Committee amendments established procedures for the state Board of Veterinary Medicine to determine euthanasia drugs that should be permitted and for the State Board of Pharmacy to issue direct access licenses to  shelters and kennels.

The committee also passed an amendment that would create the profession of certified euthanasia technician and provide for licensing and training requirements.  Only certified euthanasia technicians could perform euthanasia by injection.

Violators would be fined $500 on the first offense of using a decompression chamber or device and up to $1000 for a second and subsequent violation. Violations of the other provisions would mean fines up to $350 per day for a first offense and up to $700 for a second or subsequent offense. The Dept. of Agriculture would be responsible for enforcing the law though the Board of Pharmacy would have authority to enforce direct access licensing requirements and the Board of Veterinary Medicine the requirements regarding drugs used and euthanasia technicians.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Contact Pennsylvania senators and urge them to vote yes on S.B. 672.  If you live in Pennsylvania, go here to find your state senator. When you call or write, let him or her know you are a constituent.   

Contact the Pennsylvania Senate leadership and urge them to schedule S.B. 672 immediately for a vote in the Appropriations Committee and then a vote by the full Senate and help pass this bill.  

President of the Senate

Joseph Scarnati

Phone # 717-787-7084

Fax # 717-783-7490

Senate Majority Leader

Dominic Pileggi

Phone # 717-787-4712

Fax # 717-772-2755

Senate Minority Leader

Robert Mellow

Phone # 717-787-6481

Fax # 717-783-5198

Gas chambers are cruel and outmoded. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has said euthanasia by injection is the preferred method. Animals put in gas chambers to die spend their last minutes in sheer terror, often scratching, clawing, howling, and crying. This is nothing short of animal cruelty.  Carbon monoxide chambers also present a real health hazard to shelter workers. Even low level exposure to this deadly, odorless, colorless gas can cause serious illness. And, gas chambers are more costly than EBI.