SANDY, Utah — A CO gas chamber has been removed from use in Sandy City Animal Services, and a series of matching donations are funding the shelter’s transition to a facility that only uses euthanasia by injection.
According to a press release from the Humane Society of Utah, there are less than three dozen shelters that still use gas chambers in the United States, and seven of those shelters are in Utah. HSU states EBI, euthanasia by injection, is the preferred method and the one that is used at most facilities.
The Humane Society of Utah donated $3,000 toward the purchase of the equipment needed for the transition, and a matching grant from Arthur Benjamin, a Sandy City resident and the founder of American Dog Rescue, joined an anonymous donation of another $2,000 to bring the total gift to $8,000.
“We’re proud of Sandy City Animal Services for working hard to make this transition so quickly,” stated Sundays Hunt, Utah State Director for the Humane Society. “They’ve set an example to increase humane treatment of animals in their care that we hope influences other shelters that still use a gas chamber to do the same. It is possible to make the transition and it’s the right thing to do.”
The press release states HSU is working with others to pass legislation banning the use of CO gas chambers statewide.
