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Help us help unwanted companion animals in the U.S.

Animal Shelters need Oversight.

We are signing this petition on behalf of companion pets that end up in government run shelters across the United States.



There is a problem with our shelters in our country, animals are impounded and kept in inhumane conditions that under State laws would be considered Animal Cruelty. Because they are government operated, many are exempt from prosecution under the very laws meant to protect companion pets.



In some jurisdictions, it has been reported that government run animal shelters employed convicted felons who are alleged to have staged dog fights, used firearms to kill the animals, and stolen medication supposed to have been used in the humane euthanasia of shelter animals.



Many shelters do not provide medical care for sick/injured animals or ample time for these animals to be redeemed by their owners, adopted, or rescued. Some shelters do not have suitable adoption programs and often use semantics as excuses (EX. "it's a dog pound, not an animal shelter") why animals continue to suffer during impound at facilities across the country.



The only acceptable means of euthanasia is EBI or Intravenous Injection. Some jurisdictions are using procedures NOT approved by the American Humane Association and are considered inhumane. Methods employed include, but are not limited to:



1) Intracardial injections, commonly know as heart sticks. On an animal that isn't sedated or comatose this is a VERY painful way to die. In shelters, there is no reason for this to be done on an otherwise healthy dog.



2) Gassing (Carbon Monoxide) It has been reported that in many cases, already frightened animals go into a "panic" with the 'hiss' of the gas and their 'screams' can be heard; fights often break out causing the brutal death of one or more dogs;



3) At some rural shelters, it has been reported that shelter animals have been killed using firearms and are reported to have been taken to landfills still alive. In some cases captive bolt-guns have been used to destroy shelter dogs, resulting in much pain and suffering for the animal.



We are counting on you, our Congress, to change laws so these animals are protected.