Stop the use of heartstick to euthanize animals. Animal Care Services, which is San Antonio's city pound, uses Euthanasia by Injection (EBI), in the form of heartstick. Heartstick is a form of EBI, but a much CRUELER and INHUMANE way to die. If the animals are not properly sedated, it will cause unimaginable suffering. They have been through enough. These animals deserve a dignified death at least, and should be treated with respect.
*Intracardial injections, commonly referred to as "heart sticks," are considered inhumane and cruel when performed on animals that aren't anesthetized or comatose. Using the "heart stick" method is painful because the needle containing sodium pentobarbital - a schedule II controlled substance used to euthanize animals - passes through the chest wall and several layers of muscle before puncturing the heart. If the euthanasia substance isn't carefully and accurately administered, an animal's lungs could be punctured, causing them to fill with fluid, a painful way to die.
Intracardial injections are difficult to administer effectively on fully conscious animals because in the animal, the lungs and the heart are constantly moving, said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a veterinarian and professor of veterinary medicine who is considered a euthanasia expert by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THESE ANIMALS DO NOT HAVE TO DIE IN AGONY!
