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Please cross post - we need a flood of phone calls and emails to support House Bill 2846 before the hearing tommorow, Feb 2!!
In VA, a group of concerned citizens and animal advocate groups are working hard to pass legislation that outlaws the use of gas Chambers as a form of euthanasia in Virginia animal shelters. PLEASE read the following update on what is happening, how we need your help and the dismal/disappointing response by the House Agricultural Subcommittee at last week's meeting. YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED AS THERE IS STILL TIME THIS SESSION TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. We are making this very simple for you to get involved, as we know the process can often be tedious and confusing. Please take a few minutes to help!
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, along with members of the group Virgnia Votes for Animal Welfare (VVAW) attended a meeting of the VA House Agriculture Subcommittee in Richmond At 7 a.m., 1/27/05. At this meeting, House Bill 2846 was brought before the Subcommittee by patron Del. J. Scott, asking for the state abolition of the gas chamber as a form of euthanasia.
The Subcommittee voted to "PBI" or "push back indefinitely" this Bill, therefore not recommending it to the full House Agriculture Committee when they meet next week, Feb. 2. Essentially, the Bill was killed. DESPITE CREDIBLE, FACTUAL EVIDENCE ON THE DANGERS, INHUMANE ASPECTS AND FINANCIAL DEATAILS THAT SUPPORT OUTLAWING THE GAS CHAMBER, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHOSE TO IGNORE THEM AND KILL THE BILL.
FACTS PRESENTED BY VVAW AND IGNORED: Don Marro and Lillian, Clancy, lead organizers for VVAW and a number of dedicated volunteers have researched and collected data on gas chambers for months and presented the following:
-19 states have outlawed the use of the gas chamber, including Tennesee, which did so after the death of a shelter employee when operating a faulty gas chamber.
-21 counties in Virginia still use the gas chamber
-None of these 21 counties' gas chambers are in compliance with OSHA standards. Some use plywood boxes, concrete rooms and other sub-standard equipment, thus posing a great danger to the humans operating the chambers and pro-longed and painful deaths to the animals being killed
-The premise that injectable euthanasia is more expensive than the gas chamber is false. IF a gas chamber is operating in compliance with OSHA standards, the cost is about the same. Therefore, the cost of switching from gas to injection is not a major issue.
-Lillian and Don have generously offered to provide $25,000 of their own money ($1,500 per shelter) to assist shelters switching from gas to injection. SO THIS BILL DID NOT ASK/REQUIRE THE STATE TO FUND THIS INITIATIVE!!!!! PRIVATE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
-In a “General Statement Regarding Euthanasia Methods for Dogs and Cats” issued in 1999 by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): “HSUS recommends the injection of sodium pentobarbital, prepared specifically for use as a euthanasia product, as the preferred agent for the euthanasia of companion animals. This method, when properly performed, has been found to be the most humane, safest, least stressful, and most professional choice by The Humane Society of the U.S., the American Humane Association, the American Protection Institute, and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR).
SUBCOMMITTEE'S RESPONSE: - I believe that the shelters using gas would/will switch to injection if they could afford it. (proven to not be an issue by evidence provided by VVAW)
-I believe that on one WANTS to use a gas chamber. I'm sure that as those using it learn that there are better options, they will switch on their own. (not happening at all)
-We support your providing private funds. I vote to PBI and let the private sector handle this. (unacceptable)
OUR TAKE ON THE SUBCOMMITTE'S ACTION: We feel the lack of action on this Bill is simply unacceptable. VVAW provided factual information that adequately dismissed the premises that were put forth by the Subcommittee members. And really, there were so few reasons put forth.
It is completely unacceptable for the State to push the burden of ridding gas chamber use completely on the private sector. Again, this Bill did NOT ask/require funding from the State. All it does is ask the State to outlaw the use of gas chambers, putting forth a strong statement that Virginia cares about humane treatment of shelter animals and the shelter staff who perform euthanasia.
We do not believe that, simply by providing funding, these 21 remaining counties will do the right thing. These are rural, back country counties. Old/bad habits die hard.
The Subcommittee members are kidding themselves when they think that all people really will do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. History has proven that time and time again.
The state of VA is not doing what is necessary here and does not have adequate reasoning not to. We did not hear one solid excuse/reason as to why the state will not pass this Bill.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY: Although the Subcommittee voted to kill Bill 2846, it will still go before the full Agriculture Committee on Feb. 2, 2005. The Subcommittee's vote is simply a suggestion (although usually accepted by the full Committee).
We can get this Bill pushed through but ONLY with an outpouring of support and pressure. This is where we need you IMMEDIATELY. Time is very short.
Please do the following immediately to help us make this happen:
E-mail ALL of the members below voicing your support for HB2846, Outlawing the use of the gas chambers. Feel free to use the facts above and/or contact us for more helpful information. Call each of the members below to express your support for their passing of HB2846 when they again hear it TOMMOROW – FEB 2. Feel free to strongly voice your frustration/disappointment/disgust with the Subcommittee members who chose to ignore credible facts/evidence and instead kill the Bill.
Time is short. E-mailing and calling is best. We need to FLOOD their offices with our support. You do NOT have to live in VA to take these steps.
CHAIR: Cox, M. Kirkland, Del_Cox@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1066
VICE CHAIR: Ware, R. Lee, Jr. Del_LWare@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1065
Full Committee Members (to hear Bill on 2/2):
Morgan, Harvey B. Del_Morgan@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1098 Sherwood, Beverly J. Del_Sherwood@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1029 Louderback, Allen L. Del_Louderback@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1015 Wright, Thomas C. Del_Wright@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1061 Suit, Terrie L. Del_Suit@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1081 Hogan, Clarke N. Del_Hogan@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1060 Van Yahres, Mitchell Del_VanYahres@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1057 Amundson, Kristen J. Del_Amundson@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1044 Miles, Floyd H., Sr. Del_Miles@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1074 Eisenberg, Albert C. Del_Eisenberg@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1047 Shannon, Stephen C. Del_Shannon@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1035
SubCommittee Members (who heard, killed Bill on 1/27):
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. Del_Orrock@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1054 Weatherholtz, Glenn M. Del_Weatherholtz@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1026 Byron, Kathy J. Del_Byron@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1022 Saxman, Christopher B. Del_Saxman@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1020 Cline, Benjamin L. Del_Cline@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1024 Scott, Edward T. Del_EScott@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1030 Plum, Kenneth R. Del_Plum@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1036 Shuler, James M. Del_Shuler@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1012 Stump, Jackie T. Del_Stump@house.state.va.us (804) 698-1003
We thank you for your support. If you would, please consider cc:ing info@homewardtrails.org on your correspondence so that we can add it to our file. Please, take 5, 10, 15 minutes from your day to do this. It can and will make a difference.
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