- checking login information
The Animal Welfare Cause
1,192,986 people care about Animal Welfare
Loading...AVMA Updates Euthanasia Guidelines
This summer the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has appointed 12 groups of professionals to update its official Guidelines on Euthanasia. The AVMA says the document will provide direction on acceptable procedures and medications that can be used to end an animal’s life in a quick and humane manner that minimizes pain and suffering.
These guidelines are critically important because veterinarians follow them in their private practices and because federal and state governments base their regulations on them.
Dr. Gail C. Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division said, “This particular document has a huge impart, obviously, on animals, but also on veterinarians and the communities they serve.”
Hopefully these new guidelines will become a tool for legislators and activists who are desperately trying to stop the inhumane use of gas chambers at animal shelters. Earlier this year when the legislators in North Carolina were considering a bill to ban gas chambers, the opposition was able to the Euthanasia Guidelines in their favor. They pointed out that the AVMA approved of the method.
The last time the Euthanasia Guidelines were reviewed was in 1999. At that time only 13 individuals met to update the document. Now there will be 72 people that will be divided into 12 separate groups. They are made up of veterinarians, scientists, animal control officers, academics and other areas of expertise.
One of the challenges faced by the group is the lack of new research. There are very few studies conducted on the best methods for ending an animal’s life. Most of the information will have to come from first accounts by professionals in the field.
The committee will also make recommendations on new topics such as employing euthanasia technicians and how to euthanize large numbers of animals in case of disease or disaster.
In keeping with its promise to consider the welfare of animals, the AVMA has included a new type of member to advise the committee. They have invited Raymond Anthony, PhD, an ethicist and assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Alaska. The AVMA believes this will balance the science of the guidelines with “morally acceptable” behavior.
The group will review the current guidelines, identify areas that need updating and draft a revised document. The final guidelines will be submitted to the AVMA Executive Board for approval. The AVMA expects to have a new set of guidelines by the end of 2010.
Dr. Steven Leary, assistant vice chancellor for Veterinary Affairs at Washington University School of Medicine said, “I think we’ll have a more thoughtful and well-considered report this time around.”
Source: JAVMA News
Read more: animal cruelty, animal shelters, animal welfare, AVMA, euthanasia, legislation
Free Digital Photos
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Don't cry for me—Saddlebags. :)
US should help him
SO glad to hear it. Thx for the update.
meet our writers
32 comments
+ add your ownHow often is euthanasia necessary? I have read comments. Veterinarians are not God, neither are any of us. God makes the decisions on when he wants someone. I believe that Doctors have a responsibility to treat the sick and injured. Euthanasia is NOT caring for the sick and injured. They have many different types of treatments for diseases. Euthanasia is no treatment! They also have pain medication for pain management. The statistics are extraordinary when it comes to euthanasia. It appears as though Humans use this technique to end suffering. It's murder and no one that believes in God could do it. The statistics on tyhe euthanasia of animals for dieases like we get are astounding and disgusting. Maybe a so-called human would like to be euthanized because he or she acquired hypothyroidism, diabetes or cancer or would they prefer to be treated, pain managed and out for a cure? I believe the latter!
I am pursuing a Master's in Biology at present and then I'm going to Vet-Med school. Iv'e been through a lot with my canines due to illness. I didn't like what was pushed in my face so I am out to change things. I'm tired of dealing with the Godless. There are plenty of treatments for your fur kids no matter what the disease. They are your kids, treat them that way.
Euthanasia is sometimes necessary, like when an animal is rabid or is dying a painful death. But gassing animals is never necessary. There are more humane methods when it is in fact necessary, but killing healthy animals is never necessary.
Hmmm..one ethicist out of 72 people who will be divided into groups...interesting. But then again, the AVMA things pig gestation crates and veal crates are perfectly fine - and they teach students by destroying healthy animals piece by piece. Looks like they need the more than one ethicist...
Sad to think we are debating the issue of a humane way to end the life of an animal who should not have been born in the first place. I know that when a cat of mine had kidney failure and was dying a little every day, my vet recommended euthanasia. I agreed and was present for the injection. I think too much was given and she died instantly, but at least I was with her. I will never come to a decision on how I feel about no-kill shelters, but I do wish more could be done to compel people to spay and neuter their pets. I own three cats and they are all sterlized. The operations did not stop them from being active, happy cats. It only made it impossible for them to add to the population. Truth to tell, I wish peole would also be sterlized to cut down on he number of human births, but that is a separate issue. I do believe putting unwanted cats and dogs to sleep as opposed to gassing them to death would be the least irresponsible pet owners could do for the problem they themselves caused in the first place.
The only humane solution is to avoid unwanted litters by spaying/neutering, and teaching our children that pets are not toys, they are living beings, just like us, with feelings, just like us, who DO NOT WANT TO DIE, just like us. Animals love life, that's all they have!
Now all this talk about "humane" killing of unwanted pets just make me sick! The selfishness of humans have no bounds! It is disgusting! We do not put down any cat or dog where we live: we try to find them a loving home, and SPAY AND NEUTER! This as a rule whenever we get an abandoned animal. As for feral cats, since they do have an important role in keeping under control rats and mice as well as keeping vipers away from houses (I live in the mountains in northern Italy) we apply the catch/spay/neuter/release method, as well as flea/tick treatments as needed. All of this is done by self financed associations. Hammer into people's head the concept of preventing any unwanter litter, hammer into people's head that animals are not toys or objects, but living beings! That's the only way!
I know it's not easy, it's quicker and cheaper to just kill off the little ones, but it's just not humane!!! There is no "humane" killing of a healthy animal!!!! It's cruel and wrong. Period!
One would like to think that if animals have to forgo their lives so that their ignorant and irresponsible owners who won't have their animals desexed, that the animals life can be ended as as painlessly as possible. But all the so called experts will go the cheapest way and then tell us the animal does not suffer at all,lets try it on them,will they come back to let us know I think not.
EVERY ANIMAL LOVER MUST SEE THIS MOVIE NARRATED BY ACTOR JOAQUIN PHOENIX:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142
All of this horrible acts would be stopped if people would just neuther and spay their animals and that is a fact.
I think more fair guidelines need to be bought in to give these animals a chance. If having more people there can help these descisions well even better.
dear Care 2
I am Flemish(Belgian).Our vet's use also during some years for euthanasia on cats and dogs an injection with 1)an overdose sedation or hypnoticum,then 2)a muscle relaxans ,then 3)an injection with natriumpentotal 200mg(propyleenglycol,ethanol, benzylalcohol,water for the injection qs.-administrated intravenously or intracardial.
The hartmuscle don't work.After 2 or 3 min.the cat or dog is dead.The animal has nothing felt,only the shot.
Recommend this way,svp.Gasification is cruel.
Kind greetings from a great catfan.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment
20