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Humane Society of the United States Carbon Monoxide (CO) Carbon monoxide (CO) is not an acceptable method of euthanasia where sodium pentobarbital can be legally obtained by shelters. The many limitations of CO make the method less practical, considerably slower, and more expensive than lethal injection. For those states where shelters cannot legally obtain, use, and administer sodium pentobarbital, The HSUS considers the use of CO a conditionally acceptable method of euthanasia for some animals when delivered by a commercially manufactured and properly equipped chamber. Only cool bottled, commercial-grade gas must be used; engine or chemically-generated gas is not acceptable due to impurities and heat, which make its use painful and inhumane. The HSUS urges all agencies currently using CO to partner with a local veterinarian who can perform euthanasia by injection and to contact your legislators to inform them of the need for direct licensing to enable sheltering agencies to purchase sodium pentobarbital. It is always unacceptable to use CO for the euthanasia of dogs and cats who are:
Old, sick, or injured animals may have poor blood pressure or weak hearts, which may delay the effects of CO, causing them to experience distress prior to unconsciousness. Animals under the age of four months may not have the lung capacity to inhale enough CO to be effective. In pregnant animals, it is likely that the mother will die from exposure to CO before the unborn puppies/kittens. Consequently, it is possible that the puppies/kittens will die as a result of the mother’s death (by suffocating to death) rather than from exposure to CO. The HSUS condemns using CO for animals meeting the above criteria. Because of these limitations, there must always be an acceptable backup method available, namely sodium pentobarbital. In most cases, agencies without access to sodium pentobarbital will need to contract with a local veterinarian to have sodium pentobarbital administered to these animals. Again, agencies without legal accessibility to sodium pentobarbital should explore the possibility of partnering with local veterinarians to perform routine euthanasia as well. Human Health Risks Posed by CO Staff must be fully notified of the potential health risks involved with using CO. Carbon monoxide is a hazardous substance: it is highly toxic and has no odor, no color, and no taste. It is one of the leading causes of accidental poisoning in the United States and repeated exposure to CO, even at low levels, can result in long-term effects, including (but not limited to) impaired memory, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, heart irregularity, and brain damage. Exposure among pregnant women can cause low birth weight in their infants. The use of a CO chamber should be closely monitored and in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Again, CO should be considered only for agencies unable to legally obtain sodium pentobarbital. The HSUS is working to change the laws to allow all animal care and control agencies to legally obtain sodium pentobarbital (see Direct Licensing Laws for Euthanasia in Animal Shelters). Alert your government officials that the use of CO by animal care and control agencies is being phased out across the nation and replaced with the more humane method of sodium pentobarbital injection. Every effort must be made to ensure the safety of shelter workers and to provide a painless and rapid humane euthanasia for animals. |
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