houndsgood Posted in Awhile back, I discussed Grace’s Law, a measure in the state of Georgia that would close a loophole in the law that would forever silence the gas chambers in the state. As it stands, counties or jurisdictions with fewer than 25,000, or facilities that had a gas chamber in operation before 1990 are still allowed to operate them in animal shelters.
In order for Grace’s Law to pass, the bill needed to pass the Agricultural Subcommittee, and then move onto the House and also pass through the senate. Because the Senate hearing was moved up two weeks early, with the decision made on a friday for a 9:30 AM hearing no less, supporters of the bill did not have the turn out they had hoped. The 8:00 A.M. subcommittee hearing was scheduled a few days earlier, so even though caught off guard, a handful of supporters were able to attend.
With a very heavy heart, readers, I have to tell you that Grace’s Law did not pass the subcommittee. The Committee Chairman is pro-gassing, so it doesn’t help matters. There was a heartwrenching account by a staff member from Liberty County AC, where Grace’s story unfolded. Unfortunately, there were people at the table that were not interested in hearing her and her voice might have been too soft to make an impact. Mostly, it had to do with people that would not let supporters of the bill speak in their alloted time without being dismissed throughout.
Grace is a tricolor hound who was loaded into the gas chamber, and when the chamber rumbled to a stop, Grace was still alive. Supporters of the gas chambers believe it is a humane method of euthanization. Liberty County employees will tell you differently when Grace was retrieved out of the chamber, covered in her own vomit and feces from the very real terror and stress that she endured. Hanging by a thread, Grace was rushed to a vet where they were able to reverse some of the damage that had been done to her system. I do not have confirmation, but do believe that this sweet dog was adopted by someone who took care of her at the vet’s office.
As a result, Liberty County shut down the gas chamber for good. They experienced the concrete proof that gassing is far from a painless method of euthanization and causes deep torture and distress. Surprisingly, even so, and even though there have been gas chamber operators who have become ill or died from these same leaking gases, one of the strongest opponents of Grace’s Law was an association for Animal Control Officers. The sentiment was that they should be able to choose whatever method of euthanization they saw fit and should not be dictated to.
One very vocal supporter of the law was a Rabbi from Macon county that went to investigate and see for himself and he was beyond horrified. He was so moved that people have organized to attempt to create a non profit organization to see fit that one of the shelters has an actual adoption program.
Why, if dogs and cats have to die anyways should you care about how its done? It is very simple. The more people that become aware of Grace’s Law, the more regular, every day people who have no involvement in animal rescue will understand what goes on. Many people do not know how many shelters in Georgia, or even elsewhere, that a cat or dog doesn’t have a prayer of being adopted or seeing the light of day ever again…perfectly good, friendly, dogs and cats that are right as rain should be at the foot of someone’s bed or running with a kid in a yard.
As for Grace’s Law, it will be a year or two until it can be reintroduced. In the meantime, please work within your county, if you are in one of the places that gasses, to convince the local authorities that it is not acceptable. When each one turns, awareness will spread.
Again, here is the list, thanks to Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare:
Ashburn, City of (in Turner County; no county facility; chamber housed in City of Ashburn.)
Barnesville, (City of) Animal Shelter (In Lamar County; no county facility; chamber housed in City of Barnesville.)
Butts County Animal Control
Cobb County Animal Control (After court order in 2006 to cease using chamber)
Cordele, City of (In Crisp County)
Cuthbert, City of (In Randolph County; no county facility; chamber housed in City of Cuthbert.)
Haralson County Animal Shelter
Hawkinsville, City of (In Pulaski County; no county facility.
Henry County Animal Control
Lakeland, City of (In Lanier County; no county facility.)
Macon, City of (In Bibb County; no county facility; chamber operated in City of Macon, under the jurisdiction of Macon Police Animal Control. Macon City Council voted unanimously June 2008 to cease using chamber by July 1, 2009.)
Mitchell County Animal Control
Spalding County Animal Shelter
Vienna, City of Animal Shelter (in Dooly County; no county facility)
Warner Robins (In Houston County; no county facility)
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I recently reported on 
Like most large hounds in the state of Georgia who find themselves in her position, she found herself at a county pound. Her number was up. Large hounds just don’t get adopted, nor does anyone else. Her card was turned over just as she was settling in. As most large hounds do, she probably even wagged her tail hopefully as she leaned in to accept the slip lead that would lead her on her very last walk. Was this a strange looking dog crate they were putting her in? But there were other dogs in there. She could hardly moved, even though many of them were sedated or just frozen with fear. The switch was pulled and the air got thick.