Mira Trapper
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Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 689
Loc: Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia
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The Edwardsville Intelligencer (IL)
Measure to end pet gassing flounders
Ann Niccum, aniccum@edwpub.net,
04/04/2008
http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19454167&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473648&rfi=6
Legislation to end the killing of unwanted pets in gas chambers may
fall short of the needed votes.
Hope Animal Rescues Co-founder Jackie Spiker said House Bill 4844 may
not have enough votes to pass the state's House of Representatives.
In addition, Spiker said the Illinois State Veterinary Medical
Association (ISVMA) is opposing the bill.
The bill was introduced by State Representative John Fritchey
(D-Chicago) with the help of Chicago English Bulldog Rescue Group
(CEBR) in February to end the use of carbon monoxide to euthanize
animals in the state of Illinois.
Now after weeks of discussion and amendments by the Agriculture and
Conservation Committee, Judiciary II Law Committee and Judiciary II
Criminal Law Committee, the bill will go to the House for a vote.
But Spiker said she fears the bill will not pass, despite support from
groups across the state and nationwide.
Organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
and the American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) support the bill.
And so does Hope Animal Rescues in Edwardsville, which focuses on
rescuing pets in danger of reaching the gas chamber.
"We are just one of the many groups hoping that HB4844 passes and ends
one of the most horrific and heartbreaking ways to take a pet's life -
the gas chamber. Since 2005, Hope has saved many pets from this death.
Illinois is only one in a handful of states that still allows this and
it must stop," Spiker said.
The HSUS estimates that 6 to 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters
across the country every year and 3 to 4 million of those pets are
euthanized.
The common form of euthanasia is via a lethal injection which is quick
and painless.
But there are still a few states like Illinois, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania where it
remains legal to use carbon monoxide to kill animals.
Ironically, the United States -which used the gas chamber to execute
prisoners in the past - questioned the method in the early 1990s and
it has even been described as "cruel and unusual punishment."
But many of these states continue to allow animals not only to be
euthanized in a gas chamber but also be euthanized by operators
without proper training and those who do not follow a humane
procedure.
Spiker said HB 4844 will end this pain.
She said the pets are piled into a chamber and are scared and suffer
slowly to their death.
"This way of killing can take up to 45 minutes and in that time the
pets scream, fight and attempt to claw their way out. If one or two
should happen to survive the first time, they are held for the second
batch, and must endure this terrible scene one more time," she said.
Hope Rescues, like animal groups across the country, is urging
citizens in the state of Illinois to join them and contact their state
representatives and state senators.
Spiker said the bill is dependent on the community's voice.
"The bill is in danger of failing because our voices, their voices
have not been heard loud enough. It is extremely important for
everyone who wishes to end the suffering of our homeless pets be
stopped to make a phone call, write a letter, do whatever you can to
help this bill pass," Spiker said.
"Who knows when we will get this chance again? We must act now!"
She added, "Please call your state representative, ask them to vote
yes, and end the use of gas chambers in Illinois. Speak for those who
cannot speak for themselves. Make your voice heard for them."
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