Your Opinion: Missouri one of few states to use animal gas chambers

Dear Editor:

Regarding the recent article on the family whose dog was euthanized after escaping due to fireworks, the vet covering at the time stated that he deemed the dog "unadoptable" due to aggression. I find it hard to believe it was that aggressive if a Good Samaritan it did not know was able to keep it overnight. Again, perhaps the dog behaved the way it did because it was frightened and was protecting itself!

The owners did try to locate their pet by contacting the shelter more than once and was turned away. One thing that wasn't mentioned was a timeline. All animals brought to the shelter should have a date and time-in documented. Had the shelter employees asked the owners trying to locate their pet what date and time it went missing, that along with their description should have been enough for the employee to locate their pet? It sounds to me that either lack of training or a lack of concern occurred in this situation and if so, then in how many other situations?

Impounded animals or those deemed as strays should also have their pictures posted on the website. Assumptions should not be made that they don't have a family who loves them and wants them home. Regardless, why shouldn't every animal have a chance to find their forever home! Hiding them away in a separate area at the shelter gives them no chance for adoption.

All of that is very sad but to add insult to injury now we find out that JCAS has purchased a new gas chamber-obviously done under the radar after the big brouhaha that occurred when the former attending vet at JCAS spoke out about concerns at the shelter a few years ago! Missouri is making national news on all the animal welfare websites and publications as having the embarrassing and inexcusable reputation of still using inhumane gas chambers that prolong death and bring agony and extreme fear to the animals. There are numerous first-hand accounts of witnessing this horror!

If it must happen, sedation is a safe, effective and peaceful (as possible) method and there are ways to administer it safely even on feral animals. Please stand up and demand that Jefferson City and Missouri be one of the 47 states that don't use the gas chamber to euthanize animals!