Pet activists are critical of Upland shelter
UPLAND - Animal rescue charity Helping Out Pets Everyday has publicly condemned the Upland Animal Shelter's method of euthanizing cats.
The organization's president, Margaret Coffman, has reached out to the city regarding the shelter's routine procedure of euthanizing cats through an intraperitoneal (IP) injection, which is done through the stomach.
"There's no way they can justify it as far as I'm concerned. The only reason to justify it is it's an assembly line," Coffman said. "It's quicker and it's faster for them to euthanize, and Upland should be above that."
The shelter has been euthanizing cats at the shelter through intraperitoneal injection of Fatal Plus, a common drug used in the practice.
In the IP method, the drug is injected into the cat through its abdominal cavity. Death can take up to 30 minutes.
HOPE, which finds homes for homeless dogs and cats, believes the use of IP injections as a routine method of euthanasia is cruel and not supported by the drug's manufacturer.
Instead, they believe the shelter should be using the intravenous (IV) injection method of euthanasia, which involves injecting cats through a vein. Death only takes up to five minutes.
"The whole point of euthanasia is a quick, painless death, and I don't think being in the throes of death for 15 to 30 minutes while they pass is quick and painless," Coffman said.
Animal Services Supervisor Jon Knowlton said shelter staff is trained to follow the guidelines in the American Humane Association's Operational Guide for Euthanasia by Injection for animal care and control agencies.
The 2010 version of the manual lists IV injections on dogs, puppies, very calm cats and pregnant cats, as well as IP injections on cats and kittens as two of the best euthanasia practices.
The shelter routinely uses the IV method for euthanizing dogs.
For cats, however, the IV method requires the shelter staff member to restrain the cat and find a vein, which is difficult, Knowlton said.
"We don't want those last minutes of the cat's life to be stressful," Knowlton said. "We want it to be calm and relaxing and for them to go down as easy as possible. That's why we use IP method."
The cats are unconscious within three to five minutes of the injection, Knowlton said.
"They go down easy and then it does take 10 minutes, sometimes 15 (minutes) for them to pass away, but they're unconscious for most of that time," he said.
Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18170628
I have been a volunteer at the Upland Animal Shelter for more then 4 years.
Supervisor Knowlton and staff give all animals the highest level of care and love humanly possible.
Mr. Knowlton and staff are dedicated people that work 24/7 to better the lives of every animal in the shelter. I feel blessed and proud to know and work with such a wonderful group of people.
Nancy Wiegenstein
Upland Shelter Volunteer
The statements claiming that the IP method of euthanasia is unacceptable or inhumane does not correspond with the training offered by the Humane Society of the United States. My training manual states, ‘Intraperitoneal (IP) injections are commonly used on newborn puppies, kittens, cats, birds, reptiles and small mammals. On animals of this size, the veins are usually too small to locate or to insert a needle accurately. Cats, puppies and small wildlife tend to resist restraint, making it difficult or impossible to insert the needle into a vein comfortably.”
I am responding to the story of May 31 of a complaint by Margaret Coffman about the euthanasia practices of the Upland Animal shelter.
Let me preface this by stating that I worked as Senior Animal Control officer for thirty-five years and euthanized animals nearly on a daily basis. I didn’t like doing it at the time, I still don’t like the necessity of doing it, but until the general public becomes responsible and the need is eliminated, someone has to do it.
Imagine if you will, a wild cat, sitting in a 2-½ foot cubed cage. 9 - 12 pounds of razor sharp teeth and needle claws, go ahead, reach in there and pull that cat out, hold it down, wet its leg to show a vein, slip a needle into a vein no larger than a pencil lead, all while the cat is doing its best to rip you to shreds.
It is so easy for someone that does not have to cope with that situation to criticize. Let Margaret Coffman actually do the job, even once before she passes judgment on the shelter staff, show everyone a workable alternative, I dare you. If you can, I am sure that solution would be welcomed. Euthanasia technicians have by far one of the most stressful jobs there is. Out of the publics neglect, they have to destroy perfectly healthy pets as well as the wild ones.
Let the shelter staff do their job without adding unneeded and unwanted stress.
Otie Braden
Upland
When Knowlton says "We don't want those last minutes of the cat's life to be stressful," I think what he really means is that he doesn't want those minutes to be stressful on the shelter attendant. I've seen a cat being put down in this method and they flop around with convulsions. I can't imagine what their bodies go thru and I wouldn't consider this "calm and relaxing". All I have to say is would you want your beloved cat to be stuck in the stomach with this drug if you had to put them down? I'm pretty sure the answer would be no, you would choose a better more peaceful method. So why don't the shelter cats get that option? This is about something else....what is it about: money, time, staff, being right....only Mr. Knowlton can answer that question!!
I remember Otie Braden. He used to work at the old Upland Shelter. The Animals there all had a party after he left- He was written up for drowning a skunk at the shelter- he has no credability in this matter!
The animals danced in their graves on the day Otie Braden retired from the Upland Animal Shelter. Even animals with holds were put to sleep while he was there.Oops, too late now.....as they were killed prior to the shelter opening. And the inhumane drowning of the skunk was widely known by many of the volunteers when it occurred. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!!
There are many things that go on at the shelter that volunteers don't know about. If they only knew....
My beloved cat was euthansized last year. My vet used an IP injection, at his suggestion as he felt it would be more stressful on my cat to hold him down for an intravenous injection. He was right - my cat did not even notice the IP injection and died peacefully in my arms.
Animals are different as are the circumstances surrounding their euthanasias, and need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
IP euthanasia is a humane euthanasia option that should not be taken away from veterinary and shelter professionals. In many cases intravenous injections are a less humane option.