Dear      :

I am writing to request that you immediately stop using a carbon monoxide gas chamber at the [name of facility].

It is known that animals killed in gas chambers often scream in panic, struggling for air, as the gas irritates their eyes and noses. It is an extremely cruel and inhumane method of euthanasia.

The use of carbon monoxide chambers for killing animals is an outdated and far less humane method of euthanasia than lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital. Euthanasia by carbon monoxide is slower than lethal injection, and the machines have been known to malfunction. If the carbon monoxide chamber malfunctions or is improperly used, death can take up to twenty minutes while death by injection is almost instantaneous. Carbon monoxide can be hazardous to shelter staff. Repeated exposure to the gas, even at low levels, can result in a variety of long-term human health problems, including cancer, infertility, and heart disease. Cost analysis of the two methods has shown that the cost of lethal injection is slightly less per animal than carbon monoxide.

Virtually every major animal protection organization in the country, as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association, advocates intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital as the euthanasia method of choice.

Please insist on euthanasia by sodium pentobarbital at the [name of facility]. As an agency that is responsible for the care and safeguarding of the animals of the community, I would expect that it would have the utmost concern for the humane treatment of animals.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing your decision.

Sincerely,

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