Over the last two weeks, Johnston County Manager Rick Hester has been bombarded with hundreds of e-mails protesting the use of the gas chamber to euthanize animals at the Johnston County Animal Shelter located at 1320 N. Brightleaf Blvd. in Smithfield.
“Most of them were from out of state,” said Hester.
Johnston County’s Animal Services Director Ernie Wilkinson has been experiencing the same scenario with calls coming in from Florida and California, but it was a recent phone call that attested to just how far word surrounding the controversy had spread. Last week, it was someone calling from Cairo, Egypt to protest Johnston County’s use of the gas chamber.
The shelter’s method of euthanasia has been reviled by the community for years and has been under even more intense scrutiny after a family pet named Niko, who was being quarantined at the shelter, was mistakenly put to death in October.
However, four months ago, animal lover Melissa Kipp of Johnston County wrote a compelling narrative about a three-year-old black lab mix called “Lost Soul.” The story gives a fictitious account of Lost Soul’s journey though the Johnston County Animal Shelter and explicitly details the character’s excruciating death from carbon monoxide in the gas chamber.
Shortly thereafter, Kipp posted her story on a craigslist.org message board and it spread rapidly on the Internet, prompting concerned individuals to flood the Johnston County Animal Shelter with phone calls and e-mails.
“People are watching the shelter from all over the world; they have their eyes on Johnston County and want the gas chamber gone,” said Kipp. “It should be a shelter, not a stepping stone to a horrifying death…”
The Johnson County Animal Shelter handles approximately 5,200 animals annually with over 3,000 of them being euthanized each year.
Ernie Wilkinson, who temporarily took Roger Davis’ place as an interim director of the shelter back in Nov., was permanently appointed to the position on July 18. He says that number of animals the shelter euthanizes each year is “not acceptable.”
“We should not put the blame on anyone but the people,” said Wilkinson. “It’s not the critters’ fault.”
To encourage adoption of the animals, the JCAS charges a nominal $5 adoption fee and a $50 deposit which is fully refundable when the owner returns with a receipt for a spaying or neutering procedure for their new pet.
Last Friday, over a course of a three-hour period, six dogs were adopted from the shelter either by individuals or rescue groups.
However, the animals awaiting homes only have seven days in quarantine and seven days to be a candidate for adoption before their fate is sealed.
Many have either read or heard the horror stories of animals that are enclosed in a gas chamber with many other animals. Wilkinson has heard stories of animals fighting to their deaths; however, he says that is not the case in his shelter.
According to Wilkinson, JCAS has the gas chamber thoroughly inspected by certified individuals, one of whom actually enters the 4x4 foot metal box to inspect for gas leaks. Wilkinson also says that the animals are placed into to one kennel that is divided into several individual spaces to prevent contact among them. He believes that adhering to proper procedure when euthanizing animals is crucial to preventing inhumane treatment.
Wilkinson hopes that in the future, a two-room addition can be built on to the shelter. One room could be used a private holding area for an animal prior to an EBI procedure and the other could be used as a procedure room to administer the injection.
Kipp is willing to do anything necessary to see that Johnston County’s use of the gas chamber is completely abolished. Her devotion to animals began when she acquired the need for a therapy dog in her teens due to a severe health issue. Her father was also assisted in his later years by a seeing-eye dog.
“[The animals] do so much for us and we owe it to them,” said Kipp. “I am begging them; I will work for free for 40 hours a week; I will clean cages – whatever it takes to make up for the price of [euthanasia by injection].”
Wilkinson says he has respect for animal rights activists who stand up for what they believe in. However, he believes that the barrage of calls and e-mails he has received of late hinders the progress he is seeking for the shelter.
“That’s the most frustrating part – trying to stay focused,” said Wilkinson regarding the recent outpouring of time consuming calls.
And it appears that the shelter is trying to take steps toward improving its situation.
As of Jan. 1, the Johnston County Animal Shelter plans to begin utilizing EBI (euthanasia by injection), a procedure which utilizes sodium pentobarbital, to put the majority of its animals to sleep, with the exception of animals deemed aggressive.
In preparation for the change in policy, Wilkinson completed a course in EBI in May which was offered by the Humane Society of the United States. Wilkinson completed the course along with Ulli Mattern, president of the Johnston County Animal Protection League. He is now certified to administer lethal injections to animals.
However Wilkinson is aware of the emotional toll the practice will take on him.
“I don’t think I will ever get used to it,” he said after mentioning a friendly and trusting hunting dog that licked his face as he had to prepare him for the injection. “It’s gut wrenching.”
But concerned community members have questioned why the shelter must persist in using the gas chamber until January.
Currently, it costs approximately 86 cents to put an animal to death in the gas chamber and approximately $1.35 per animal when administering EBI. Factored into the equation is the fact that the chamber was paid for years ago. The 2005-06 Operating Budget for the Shelter is $410,000.
However the price is currently not the main issue. FDA licensing is required to obtain and administer the controlled substances such as sedatives needed to conduct the EBI. There is also a question as to whether or not the shelter will hire a veterinarian to conduct EBI on a regular basis or use only its own staff. Currently a local veterinarian assists in EBI when animals at the shelter are too young, sick or pregnant to be euthanized in the gas chamber.
Johnston County Manager Rick Hester has high expectations for the shelter’s future.
“We are committed to being the best,” said Hester who also mentioned his desire to have Johnston County’s Animal Shelter be a leader and one that is emulated by shelters in other counties.
Other improvements that the shelter has made over recent months are the implementation of an ATS (animal tracking system) in Nov. that documents information on each animal as they are processed and monitored through their stay at JCAS. There has also been the addition of a new mechanical watering system that constantly keeps the animals’ water bowls full.
An additional field officer has been added to the staff, thereby enabling another officer to share both office and field responsibilities.
And Kennel Attendant Bryan Bryant and Field Officer Chad Massengil were sent to receive extensive training and education pertaining to their field at a 2005 Expo in Atlanta, GA.
Recently the JCAS was criticized in the media for spending money on new uniforms and landscaping. According to Wilkinson, the landscaping was donated and planted by mother and daughter team Sandy Sader and Brenda Lewis. And while JSCS will be sporting a new style of uniform next year, no additional funding was spent on the change. JCAS replaces their uniforms each year due to extreme wear and tear and the price of the new uniforms was equivalent to their previous selection.
The Johnston County Animal Control Department is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Pet Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For more information contact the shelter at (919) 934-8474. To look up pets available for adoption at the Johnston County Animal Shelter visit www.4042.com or www.petfinder.com.
