Welcome to the Official Website of Summit County Animal Rights Enforcement.  

Also known as:   SCARE

Akron, OH.  Summit County

INITIAL VETERINARY CONFIRMATION THAT 

DOGS WERE NOT DEAD WHEN PUT INTO THE FREEZER 

AT THE SUMMIT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

(email correspondence)

You have been so helpful in the past so I was wondering if you could help me with another issue. I was hoping that you could be of assistance with an issue involving inappropriate dosages of sodium pentobarbital given to dogs at our county-run shelter in Akron, Ohio. 

At issue is a recent situation where 18 dogs were given far less sodium pen (Fatal Plus) than was required by the animal's weight. All of the dogs were given 1-2 cc's of xylanxine/ketamine followed by 2 cc's of Fatal plus. Several of these dogs weighed more than 60 pounds each with two dogs weighing 95 and 100 lbs each. 

It is my understanding that there was no verification of death preformed on the animals and that they were all quickly thrown into a freezer after receiving the injections.

 A witness was told by the person responsible for doing this that "they were running low" on Fatal Plus. We believe that these dogs, especially the largest dogs, didn't die humanely but in all likelihood froze to death. We want to expose this and other inhumane practices at this facility and in order to do so, we really need a shelter veterinarian such as yourself to make a clear statement regarding just how inappropriate and inhumane this under dosing situation was.  

Any help that you can give will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Polly Grunfeld Sack

-----Original Message-----

From: Dr. Bob Rogers To: Sack, Polly Sent: Thu Dec 15 12:33:48 2005

Polly, Thanks for all you do.

The Compendium of Veterinary Products, 2005, 8th Ed ,states the dosage of Fatal plus is 1cc/10lbs.

Although unpublished, it is an accepted protocol to cut the dose in half when patients are presedated with drugs like the Xylazine/Ketamine combination. 

That still leaves these unfortunate victims short, suffocating and suffering. 

By all means it should be verified that patients have no heart beat and pupils are fixed and dilated before they are placed in a freezer.

I was on a panel (1977 ish) to establish a euthanasia protocol for the El Paso, Texas Animal Control Shelter when an employee had a nervous breakdown and sued the City over their inhuman euthanasia procedures. The AVMA also wrote a guideline for human euthanasia procedures many years ago. I will search for it for you.

 Sincerely, Dr Bob

 HOME