COLUMBIANA COUNTY Official leans toward keeping gas method for euthanasia

By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A Columbiana County commissioner who recently weighed switching from gas to lethal injection to kill unwanted dogs at the county pound says that after examining the issue, he's "leaning" toward sticking to gas.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel said Tuesday he is beginning to think the carbon monoxide gas chamber that's been used by the county for years is a satisfactory means of destroying sick, vicious, infirm and other unwanted dogs at the county pound.
"I'm leaning that way," Hoppel said of continuing to use gas. "I wouldn't say it's carved in granite," he added, noting that he's still scrutinizing the issue.
Hoppel said last month he thought lethal injection might be more humane than gas, that the county was heading toward injections and that he would examine the dog pound budget for money to pay for shots, which are more expensive than gas.
Commissioner Sean Logan has said he would favor switching to lethal injection as a "better way" of handling the task, even if it means raiding the county general fund to help pay for shots.
A Vindicator story earlier this month detailing the county's use of gas to kill dogs -- which is legal and used by other counties -- sparked ire from some animal lovers, who think it's inhumane. The story also contributed to commissioners deciding to studying the two methods.
Watched it being done
To learn more, Logan, Hoppel and Commissioner Gary Williams witnessed lethal injections being performed on animals Tuesday at the Angels for Animals shelter in Beaver Township.
Hoppel said he spoke to veterinarians at Angels as well as other veterinarians who have said gassing is no less humane than shots.
"No one has proven to me that one is more humane than the other," Hoppel said.
Logan and Williams were unavailable to comment.
Last week, Angels co-founder Diane Less Baird said gassing is just as good, if not better, than lethal injection.
Dogs are traumatized by either method, she said.
Gassing is probably easier emotionally on the people whose job it is to destroy dogs because it involves less hands-on contact with the animals, she said.
Hoppel said he worries that using lethal injection would be dangerous for pound workers who must routinely destroy vicious, combative dogs.
The Mahoning County dog pound uses shots. Bites are rare and needle sticks occur only occasionally during the procedures, Mahoning County Dog Warden Carol Markovich said.
Markovich stressed, however, that lethal injection requires well-trained and well-equipped personnel to do the job safely.