North Carolina

Gas Chambers

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CARBON MONOXIDE VERSUS SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL COST ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

DIRECTIONS: The analysis below uses data from an actual municipal animal control agency. To determine your cost, insert localized data where appropriate.

Note: The current standard for CO euthanasia requires a backup method (typically sodium pentobarbital) for animals less than 16 weeks of age or sick. Although the cost of backup adds to the overall cost of CO and is not calculated in this model, this additional cost would be partially offset due to fewer CO cycles necessary (thus less gas/labor costs), since some animals will be euthanized using the backup method.

Original model prepared by the Humane Society of the United States Great Lakes Regional Office, based on the Animal Euthanasia Cost Analysis Work Sheet developed at Texas A & M University November 1991.

 

CARBON MONOXIDE EQUIPMENT COST

Line DESCRIPTION/COST Formula
1

Original cost of unit: $6,000

Usable life: 10 years

 
2

CO room sensor cost:  $500 

Usable life:  10 years

 
3
Depreciation, Annual:  $650

cost of unit (line 1) + cost of sensor (line 2) ¸ usable life (10 years)

4
Depreciation, Daily: $2.50 annual depreciation (line 3) ¸ working days per year (260)
5
Average number (#) of animals per day euthanized: 38.5

total # of animal euthanized: 10,000 (6,000 dogs/4,000 cats) ¸ workingdays per year (260)

6
Depreciation cost per animal: $0.065 daily depreciation (line 4) ¸ animals per day euthanized (line 5)
7
Maintenance cost per animal: $0.05 maintenance cost per year: $500 ¸ animals per year euthanized

8
Equipment cost per animal: $0.115 depreciation cost per animal (line 6) + maintenance cost (line 7)

CARBON MONOXIDE LABOR COST

LINE DESCRIPTION/COST FORMULA
9
# of employees required to process: 1  
10
Average single processing period: 30 minutes

4 minutes load and start + 20 minutes operating cycle + 6 minutes unload and clean

11
Average # of animals per cycle: 6 animals (4-5 dogs and 10 cats)

depends on size of unit — use strictly according to manufacturer's recommendations.

NOTE: OVERLOADING CHAMBER WILL RESULT IN INHUMANE DEATH

12
Average total processing period: 210 minutes

average # of animals euthanized (line 5) ¸ # of animals per cycle (line 11) Note: round up to next higher # ´ processing period (30 minutes) (line 10)

13
Labor cost per minute: $0.193 average hourly wage (include fringe cost): $11.58 ¸ 60 minutes
14
Total labor cost for entire processing period: $40.53 labor cost per minute (line 13) ´ processing time (line 12)
15
Labor cost per animal: $1.05

labor cost for processing (line 14) ¸ # of animals euthanized per day (line 5)

CARBON MONOXIDE SUPPLY COST

LINE
DESCRIPTION/COST FORMULA
16
Cost per CO cylinder: $100 cost of gas + cylinder rental
17
# of cylinders used per year: 17.3 cylinders  
18

Total cost of CO:  $1,730

cost per cylinder (line 16) ´ # of cylinders (line 17)
19
# of cycles per year: 1820 cycles

average # of animals euthanized per day (line 5) ¸ # of animals per cycle (line 11) Note: round up to next higher # ´ # of work days (260)

20
Gas cost per cycle: $0.95

total cost of CO (line 18) ¸ # of cycles per year (line 19)

NOTE:6% concentration required

21
Gas cost per animal: $0.158 gas cost per cycle (line 20) ¸ # of animals per cycle (line 11)

CARBON MONOXIDE TOTAL COST

22
Total cost per animal: $1.323

equipment cost (line 8) + labor cost (line 15) + supply cost (line 21)

RECOMMEND: .5 mg/# of acepromazine maleate 20 minutes prior to placing in chamber to reduce vocalization/ agitation in dogs. this cost is not factored into this model. see footnote on page five for cost information.

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SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL EQUIPMENT COST

LINE
DESCRIPTION/COST FORMULA
1
Equipment cost: $500

floor safe ($250) + table ($50) + electric clippers ($100) + squeeze gate ($100)

2
Usable life: 10 years  
3
Depreciation, Annual: $50 cost ($500) (line 1) ¸ usable life (10 years) (line 2)
4
Depreciation, Daily: $0.19 annual depreciation ($50) (line 3) ¸ working days per year (260)
5
Average # of animals euthanized per day: 38.5 total # of animals euthanized: 10,000 ¸ working days per year (260)
6
Depreciation cost per animal: $0.005

daily depreciation ($0.19) (line 4) ¸ animals euthanized per day (line 5)

7
Maintenance cost per animal: $0.00 no projected maintenance cost
8
Total equipment cost per animal: $0.005 depreciation cost per animal (line 6) + maintenance cost (line 7)

SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL LABOR COST

9

A. # of employees required to process IV: 2

B. # of employees required to process IP: 1

NOTE: ONE EMPLOYEE CAN PROCESS AN ADULT DOG IF PRE-EUTHANASIA DRUGS ARE USED

10

A. # of IV injections: 5100

B. # of IP injections: 4900

A. 5100 = 6000 dogs less estimated # of puppies 900 (15%)

B. 4900 = 4000 cats + estimated # of puppies (900)

11
Average single processing period: 2 minutes

transport to euthanasia room + preparation and injection + verification of death + removal of carcass + record keeping NOTE: average time to process cats, kittens and puppies (ip injections) will be much less than 2 minutes each.

12
# of animals per single processing period: 1  
13
Total processing time: 77 minutes

# of animals per day (line 5) ´ single processing period (2 minutes)(line 11)

14
Labor cost per dog (IV): $0.77

hourly wage (include fringe): $11.58 ¸ 60 minutes ´ # of employees required to process (2) (line 9 A) ´ 2 (# of minutes to process) (line 11)

15
Labor cost per cat, kitten, puppy, etc. (IP): $0.386

hourly wage (include fringe): $11.58 ¸ 60 minutes ´ # of employees required to process (1) (line 9 B) ´ 2 (# of minutes to process) (line 11)

16
Total annual labor cost for processing (IV): $3927.00 labor cost per dog (line 14) ´ # of dog (IV) injections (line 10 A)
17
Total annual labor cost for processing (IP): $1891.40

labor cost per cat, kitten, puppy, etc. (IP) (line 15) ´ # of IP injections (line 10 B)

18
Average labor cost per animal: $0.58

total annual labor cost (IV) (line 16) + total annual labor cost (IP) (line 17) ¸ annual # of animals euthanized (10,000)

SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL SUPPLY COST

19
Sodium pentobarbital cost per 250 ml bottle: $27.00  
20
Cost per ml (cc): $0.108 cost of bottle ($27.00) ¸ 250 ml
21
Average dose per animal: 5 ml 50 pound dog
22
Sodium pentobarbital cost per animal: $0.54

cost per bottle ($27.00) ¸ doses per bottle (50) (based on average 50 pound dog)

23
Syringe cost per animal: $0.0017

syringe (6 ml) cost: $17 per 100 ($0.17 each) estimates 100 uses per syringe

24
Needle cost per animal: $0.092 needle (22 ga.) cost: $9.20 per 100 (one use only)
25
Cost per animal for pre-euthanasia drug: $2.65

5:1 ratio of ketamine/xylazine (100 mg) per 50 pound dog as needed (estimate 1 adult dog in 25 — not needed for cats)

26
No. of dogs needing pre-euthanasia anesthesia: 204 total # of adult dogs euthanized: 5100 ´ .04
27
Total cost of pre-euthanasia drug: $541

cost per animal ($2.65) (line 25) ´ # of dogs needing pre-euthanasia drug (line 26)

28

Average cost per total animals euthanized for pre-euthanasia drug: $0.054

total cost of pre-euthanasia drug (line 27) ¸ total # of animals euthanized

29
Per use cost of needle/syringe for pre-euthanasia drug: $0.094 cost of syringe ($0.0017) (line 23) + needle ($0.092) (line 24)
30
Total cost of needle/syringe for pre-euthanasia drug: $19.18

cost of needle/syringe (line 29) ´ # of dogs needing pre-euthanasia anesthesia (line 26)

31

Average cost per total animals for needle/syringe for pre-euthanasia drug: $0.0019

total cost of needle/syringe (line 30) ¸ total # of animals euthanized
32
Total supply cost per animal: $0.689

sodium pentobarbital per animal (line 22) + syringe (line 23) + needle (line 24) + pre-euthanasia drug (line 28) + pre-euthanasia needle/syringe (line 31)

SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL TOTAL COST

33
Total cost per animal: $1.27

equipment cost per animal(line 8) + labor cost per animal (line 18) + supply cost per animal (line 32)

Summary

34

Cost per year:

Carbon Monoxide: $13,2301

cost per animal (CO line 22) ´ # of animals euthanized: 10,000
35

Cost per year:

Sodium Pentobarbital: $12,700

cost per animal (line 33) ´ # of animals euthanized: 10,000

Add the cost of acepromazine maleate (.5 mg./pound) plus needle and syringe.

Approximate cost for 50-pound dog:

$0.27 ´ 5100 dogs (approximate # to be put into chamber) = $1377.

NOTE: cost figures for gas and sodium pentobarbital are out of date.

Why do they need the barbaric chambers?????????????

When it is better to inject!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 



 

The GOOD News?

Some shelters in NC have stopped using the gas chambers!!!!!!!!!

Those shelters are listed below!

(more will be added WHEN they stop!)

(( And when I learn of them))

 

1.Franklin County -Louisville NC

 

Return to the shelters

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