COLUMBIANA CO. Logan rethinks dog pound injections
Animal advocates' viewpoints surprised a county official.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A second Columbiana County commissioner says he's rethinking the idea of switching from gas to lethal injection to kill unwanted dogs at the county pound.
Earlier this month, Commissioner Sean Logan referred to lethal injection as a "better way" to destroy animals at the pound and said he would favor using shots, which are more expensive than gassing, even if it meant tapping the county's general fund.
But Thursday, Logan said his research into the two methods is causing him to reconsider his position.
Witnessed euthanasia
Logan joined fellow commissioners Gary Williams and Jim Hoppel earlier this week in witnessing lethal injections performed on dogs at the Angels for Animals shelter in Beaver Township.
Angels veterinarians told commissioners carbon monoxide gassing is just as humane as lethal injection, Logan related.
That information has prompted him to consider sticking with gas, Logan said.
Hoppel said earlier this week that the Angels visit, plus talks with other veterinarians, has him "leaning" toward continuing to use gas at the county pound, which is legal under Ohio law. Last year, it was used to kill more than 750 stray, sick, infirm and vicious dogs.
All three commissioners say they have yet to make up their minds on the issue, which arose after a Vindicator story detailing the operation of the county's gas chamber.
Will view gassing
Williams and Logan said they will view a gassing at the county pound before deciding whether to switch.
Logan said he had always assumed lethal injection was more merciful and was surprised to hear Angels staff say the two killing methods are about equal.
Last week, Diane Less Baird, Angels co-founder, said both gas and lethal injection can be traumatic for dogs.
Dogs in a gas chamber sometimes panic in the tight space, especially when pure carbon monoxide is suddenly pumped in to kill them.
But the shot method involves sticking dogs with needles, and the sedative used sometimes makes dogs sick, Less Baird said.
She added that gassing is less traumatic for workers whose job it is to kill dogs because there's less contact with the condemned canines.
Angels uses lethal injection, but it's in a clinical setting with veterinarians, something few dog pounds can replicate, Less Baird said.