,,iv  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #bjh  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,may #h1 #bjac ,mr4 
,moran submitted the following          
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,agriculture  ,,resolution
  ,expressing opposition to the use of  
carbon monoxide1 carbon dioxide1        
nitrogen1 nitrous oxide1 argon1 or other
 gases to euthanize shelter animals and 
support for ,state laws that require the
 use of the more humane euthanasia by   
injection method4  ,whereas #f1jjj1jjj  
to #h1jjj1jjj cats and dogs are placed  
into the care of between #d1jjj to      
#f1jjj local animal shelters each year  
in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas nearly 
half of these animals are euthanized    
each year because adoptive homes are not
 able to be found for them2 ,whereas to 
be considered humane1 a euthanasia      
technique must expeditiously cause      
painless unconsciousness1 followed by   
respiratory then cardiac arrest1 and    
ultimately death2 ,whereas animals      

euthanized in gas chambers are often    
forced into confined areas with several 
other animals1 causing unnecessary      
stress and aggressive behavior2 ,whereas
 the use of gas chambers can take over  
#cj minutes to end an animal's life and 
sometimes does not result in the death  
of all the animals inside2 ,whereas the 
use of gas chambers can cause a loss of 
consciousness and brain function in an  
animal only after the animal's vital    
organs shut down1 resulting in prolonged
 suffering and distress2 ,whereas old1  
pregnant1 neonatal1 and injured animals 
are often biologically unable to absorb 
the gas as readily as larger or         
healthier animals1 which can prolong the
 stress and trauma they experience      
before death2 ,whereas highly toxic     
carbon monoxide1 the most common        
chemical used in animal gas chambers1 is
 the leading cause of accidental        
poisoning in the ,united ,states1 and1  
even at low levels1 can result in many  
long-term effects including impaired    

memory1 breathing difficulties1 muscle  
weakness1 heart irregularities1 and     
brain damage2 ,whereas gas chambers     
threaten the safety of animal shelter   
workers1 causing the death of at least  
one human and severely injuring several 
others in recent years2 ,whereas a      
viable and cost-effective alternative to
 the use of gas chambers exists in the  
form of euthanasia by injection using   
sodium pentobarbital2 ,whereas the use  
of euthanasia by injection causes       
animals to lose consciousness and brain 
function before their vital organs shut 
down1 decreasing suffering and resulting
 in rapid clinical death2 ,whereas the  
use of injectable euthanasia agents is  
considered the most reliable and        
preferable method of animal euthanasia  
by the ,american ,humane ,association1  
the ,american ,veterinary ,medical      
,association1 the ,national ,animal     
,control ,association1 the ,association 
of ,shelter ,veterinarians1 the         
,american ,society for the ,prevention  

of ,cruelty to ,animals1 and the ,humane
 ,society of the ,united ,states2 and   
,whereas at least #bj ,states and the   
,district of ,columbia either have laws 
banning the use of gas chambers or      
choose not to use the method to         
euthanize shelter animals3 ,now1        
therefore1 be it  ,that the ,house of   
,representatives--  7#a7 expresses      
disapproval of the use of gas chambers  
to euthanize shelter animals2  7#b7     
supports the enactment of ,state laws   
requiring the use of euthanasia by      
injection with sodium pentobarbital as  
the standard method of euthanasia for   
all animal shelters1 and  7#c7          
encourages ,states to allow licensed    
shelters to purchase necessary          
euthanasia drugs1 such as sodium        
pentobarbital1 subject to appropriate   
training and certification4