HI HCR34

Urges counties to discontinue use of carbon monoxide gas chambers for euthanizing animals in shelters and require switch to injection-based euthanasia instead.

Identifies concerns with carbon monoxide euthanasia including prolonged suffering (up to 30 minutes to death), organ failure before loss of consciousness, and particular harm to elderly, young, and sick animals.

Notes workplace safety risks to animal shelter workers from carbon monoxide exposure, including risks of injury, asphyxiation, and long-term health effects such as cancer, infertility, and heart disease.

Cites the American Veterinary Medical Association, Humane Society of the United States, and American Humane Association as endorsing injection as the more humane and preferred euthanasia method, achieving unconsciousness in five seconds and death within five minutes.

Requires each county to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2014 regular session describing progress toward eliminating carbon monoxide use by animal shelters.