This article nowhere mentions the danger to shelter workers from being around CO gas. A shelter worker in TN died from exposure to CO gas while unloading a chamber. The state has since banned the use of chambers in shelters.

The North Carolina Department of Labor (OSHA) has investigated numerous gas chamber operations and determined that carbon monoxide leaks were present. One recent incident involved a carbon monoxide flash fire.

In addition, inspections by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified leaking gas chambers. Gas chamber explosions have also occurred in NC.

Long term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide also presents risk to shelter workers. And the risk of a fire or explosion when the gas concentration level reaches 10% or greater.

This article omits that gas chamber manufacturers have acknowledged that the gas chambers in use in North Carolina do not use a gas concentration gauge. This gauge is necessary to measure the level of carbon monoxide in the gas chamber. Without such a gauge, it is impossible to accurately determine when the required concentration level of carbon monoxide is reached and whether or not the gas concentration remains constant. So given that it is not possible to determine whether or when the animals actually lose consciousness or the suffering they might endure until then.

This article omits that the fear and severe anxiety of animals dying in a gas chamber has been documented by NC inspectors. There are many uncontroverted reports of suffering by animals as they die in gas chambers. Some animals have even survived this ghastly process only to be gassed again. No one can say it is not a painful, cruel death. Even the AVMA acknowledges that until there is sufficient build up of gas in the lungs, the animals experience a great deal of agitation. Here is how AVMA describes stress reactions of animals: “distress vocalization (this means barking, crying, howling), struggling, attempts to escape, defensive or redirected aggression, salivation, urination, defecation, evacuation of anal sacs, pupillary dilatation, tachycardia, sweating, and reflex skeletal muscle contractions causing shivering, tremors, or other muscular spasms.” The 2007 AVMA report states, “Reptiles, amphibians, and diving birds and mammals have a great capacity for holding their breath.” The report goes on to state in these animals which by definition, include dogs and cats, the time to lose consciousness “may be greatly prolonged.”

It is unfortunate this article omits that actually according to the 2007 AVMA Euthanasia Report, lethal injection is preferred. This article also omits that CO gas chambers are considered so inhumane and so unsafe for shelter workers that they are banned in several states and used by few public shelters around the country. In NC 64 counties use lethal injection and 59 use it exclusively. This article implies aggressive, wild or distressed animals must be gassed, but they can be anesthetized prior to injection or given it orally. In fact, because gas chambers are banned or simply not used in most shelters, obviously this is how they are routinely euthanized every day in most places. It is far worse for a shelter worker to drag an aggressive or very frightened animal to a gas chamber. Imagine the danger to the worker and increased fear of the animal.