No gas for euthanasia
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Updated: November 06, 2009 4:07 PM
Controversial gas boxes, used by a Vancouver Island community to euthanize feral cats, are not being considered an option in Abbotsford.
In mid-October, North Cowichan council voted in favour of allowing Coastal Animal Services – the private contractor hired by that municipality to carry out animal euthanizations – to continue using gas boxes.
During the procedure, described as inhumane by some animal lobbyists, caged cats lose consciousness and die after being placed inside a box filled with carbon dioxide.
Like North Cowichan, the City of Abbotsford contracts out some of its animal control services. The Aldergrove-based Mainland Municipal Animal Control is contracted by the city to act as its poundkeeper, and enforce the city’s animal control bylaws.
Most B.C. communities use lethal injection to euthanize animals, and City of Abbotsford spokeswoman Katherine Jeffcoatt said that is the system used locally.
“The City of Abbotsford does not use gas boxes,” said Jeffcoatt. “Cats euthanized by our contractor are done by lethal injection by a veterinarian.”
A Mainland spokesperson said gas boxes have never been used by the company.
“It will never, ever happen,” he added.
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