SBACC Special Committee Meeting Minutes and final document (2)

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DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS. § 5.090 DEFINITION. For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. ANIMALS. Any animate being not human. (Ord. XXXXXX) 5.091 Destruction of Animals. All animals impounded by South Bend Animal Care and Control, a public or private sheltering agency or rescue group shall be killed, only when necessary and consistent with the requirements of this Act, by lethal intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, except as follows: (1) intraperitoneal injections may be used only under the direction of a licensed veterinarian, and only when intravenous injection is not possible for infant animals, companion animals other than cats and dogs, or in comatose animals with depressed vascular function. (2) intracardiac injections may be used only when intravenous injection is not possible for animals who are completely unconscious or comatose, and then only under the direction of a veterinarian. (a) No person other than a duly authorized agent of the animal control shelter may destroy any domestic animal within the city limits; provided, however, this provision shall not apply to the following: (1.) A licensed veterinarian, (2.) A veterinary staff member under the direct supervision of a veterinarian (3.) Those persons acting in immediate self- protection, (b) The Department of Animal Control, other animal shelters, and/or public animal facilities which destroy animals in the city, shall use only sodium pentobarbital or a derivative substance for said purpose. (c) The duly authorized animal control agent(s) must be trained in humane procedures by a licensed veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician and shall perform the destruction of animals in a humane manner as specified by the AVMA’s Guidelines for Euthanasia. Said person(s) must have letter from a licensed veterinarian citing their competency in humane euthanasia procedures and must be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian on a yearly basis. (d) No animal's body shall be disposed of until all vital signs are checked (fixed pupil, cessation of heartbeat and respiration) to assure that death has occurred. (A) No animal shall be allowed to witness any other animal being killed or being tranquilized/sedated for the purpose of being killed or see the bodies of animals which have already been killed. (B) Animals shall be sedated/tranquilized as necessary to minimize their stress or discomfort, or in the case of vicious animals, to ensure staff safety, except as follows: (1) neuromuscular blocking agents shall not be used as sole agent. (C) Following their injection, animals shall be lowered to the surface on which they are being held and shall not be permitted to drop or otherwise collapse without support. (D) An animal may not be left unattended between the time procedures to kill the animal are commenced and the time death occurs, nor may the body be disposed of until death is verified. (E) Verification of death shall be confirmed for each animal in all of the following ways: (1) by lack of heartbeat, verified by a stethoscope; (2) by lack of respiration, verified by observation; (3) by pale, bluish gums and tongue, verified by observation; and