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Animal Control is Taking a Pounding

11/19/2004

Text by © Lisa Sandberg/San Antonio Express-News/ZUMA Press

     After defending the gas chamber as the most humane method of animal euthanasia, the city health director said Thursday he might be willing to switch to lethal injections if strong community outrage persisted.

     "If the community does not believe in gas euthanasia, we're certainly willing to hear that prospective," Dr. Fernando Guerra, who oversees the animal pound, said Thursday in an interview.

     In an earlier memo sent to the mayor and the City Council, however, the health director said this week's San Antonio Express-News series on the animal pound had failed to discuss the "humane advantages" of carbon monoxide gas.

     "This process minimizes fright by each animal, restraint required and occupational risks to staff," the memo stated.

     City officials have been trying to deal with rising public furor generated by the Express-News series, which revealed San Antonio kills more dogs and cats per capita than any other large city in the country and does so with a method — the gas chamber — other large cities have done away with.

     The newspaper also reported that handling procedures haven't changed in the three years since the National Animal Control Association, a consulting group, issued a report criticizing them.

     An Express-News reporter witnessed gassed dogs being dumped into a truck without anyone verifying they were dead, and hundreds of puppies and kittens under 4 months old being sent to the chamber, despite the fact their lungs may be too premature to properly absorb the gas.

     The reporter regularly saw crates crowded with animals being wheeled into the chamber, creating the potential that some may not absorb enough gas to actually die.

     The two-part series provoked hundreds of responses from readers, most of whom expressed outrage at the conditions described.

     "I want to take a time of silence for the dogs that are barking no more and the cats that are meowing no more because they did get killed at our city pound," D'Ann Trethan said during the citizens to be heard section of Thursday's City Council meeting.

     In his first public comments since the series ran, Mayor Ed Garza acknowledged the city agency suffered "significant problems."

     "The system is broken," the mayor said Thursday, The agency "has been neglected for decades."

     He said that the new $12 million Animal Control facility planned for 2007 would take San Antonio "out of the dark ages." But much more would be needed if San Antonio is to create a modern, forward thinking animal control facility.

     "That's a ways off," he said. "But at least now it's a priority."

     He and Interim City Manager Rolando Bono said they might support making Animal Care and Control a stand-alone agency, with the pound's top official reporting directly to the city manager, as opposed to remaining a division within a much larger health department.

     "At some point it may be necessary to have more directional operational oversight. It's an option," Bono said.

     Bono said he didn't expect any immediate management changes at the animal pound and wouldn't comment on the handling practices reported in the newspaper until he could discuss them with his staff.

     "There was enough (in the series) that caused me to want to have more information," he said.

     Bono said he would support an audit of the pound's practices and procedures, possibly by the Animal Control Advisory Board, a panel that's appointed by city council members.

     While the euthanasia rate around the nation has plummeted over the past two decades, it has nearly doubled here, reaching nearly 50,000 this year.

     Nearly nine of 10 animals that enter the pound are trucked out to the landfill. Included in that statistic are all puppies and kittens under 4 months of age and virtually all owner-surrendered animals.

     Dr. William Lammers, the pound's top official, has declined requests this week for an interview, referring calls to Dr. Guerra. While he and Dr. Guerra were on hand to answer questions at Thursday night's council meeting, neither was summoned to do so.

     In response to community pressure, a town hall meeting has been called for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the SBC Technology Center at St. Mary's University.

     Some animal welfare groups are planning to protest outside the Animal Care and Control facility Saturday at 10 a.m.

     This text may not be edited or altered, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. For editorial licensing of the pictures or text, please contact ZUMA Press at (949) 494.7704 or e-mail Info@zReportage.com.

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