| A peaceful rally was held on February 3rd 2014, in support of banning the animal gas chambers at the Randolph County Animal Shelter at |
The outcome:
2/4/14: Courier this morning
ASHEBORO — Puppies and people came out Monday before the Randolph County Commissioners meeting to protest the use of gas chambers for euthanasia at the county’s animal shelter.
Commissioners heard the protesters out, but they took no action on shelter operations Monday.
Protesters numbered close to 100 and most appeared to be from Randolph County. Several had adopted their animals from the shelter or had volunteered at the shelter as some point.
The rally was facilitated by the Randolph County SPCA. Organizers gathered signatures on a petition which they presented to county commissioners during the public comment period. Angie Allred told commissioners the petition included 5,570 signatures of people who want to see the gas chambers removed from the shelter and replaced with lethal injection for euthanasia.
Standing in a circle outside the courthouse, Linda Barnes of Franklinville said when she first became a volunteer at the shelter, she was horrified to discover the county still used gas to kill abandoned and unwanted animals.
Alyssa Murkin of Asheboro said she adopted Moss, her Border collie mixed breed, from the shelter. She adopted Moss in October. She said it was heartbreaking to visit the shelter.
“I wanted to adopt every one (of the animals there),” she said.
Cortney Griffiths of Asheboro, who said she volunteered at the shelter before she began working regularly, adopted Roxie, a Labrador mixed breed, from the shelter. She said that even if using lethal injection cost the county more and taxes had to be increased to cover the cost, it would be worth it to know the animals would suffer less pain.
During the public comment period, several people addressed the board directly.
Randy Griff said he believes it is more expensive to operate the gas chambers than to use lethal injection, especially when the cost of insurance for the facility is factored in.
Sandy Tuttle of Kernersville said she was appalled when she heard Randolph County is one of 10 counties in North Carolina that still uses carbon monoxide gas to kill shelter animals.
“I came in support of the people who have come out against this,” she said.
Iris Fox said she lives in Asheboro but was born in Connecticut. She said she never saw anything like this in that state.
“North Carolina is a wonderful place. Why can’t we get this right?” she asked.
Donna Lawrence of Greensboro, organizer of Susie’s Hope, was also at the protest in support. Susie’s Hope is a nonprofit organization that fosters awareness of animal abuse. Susie was a pitbull/German shepherd mix that was beaten and set on fire. Lawrence rescued Susie. She told commissioners pets have feelings, too.
“It’s not their fault. They didn’t ask to be born,” she said. “It’s not fair for animals to have to suffer this way.”
Not everyone spoke up for the animals. James McDaniel of Randleman said he read the article on the county animal shelter in Sunday’s issue of The Courier-Tribune. He said he loves animals and wants them to be treated humanely.
However, he said, what caught his eye was the county’s budget for the animal shelter. According to information on a state website, Randolph County budgeted $395,718 in 2012 for the shelter.
“That’s a large amount of money when there are kids who are homeless and hungry. I think we could use some of that money for Randleman Elementary School,” he said.
Commission Chair Harold Holmes thanked the audience for their participation but told them there would be no action on those comments at this time.
ASHEBORO — Puppies and people came out Monday before the Randolph County Commissioners meeting to protest the use of gas chambers for euthanasia at the county’s animal shelter.
Commissioners heard the protesters out, but they took no action on shelter operations Monday.
Protesters numbered close to 100 and most appeared to be from Randolph County. Several had adopted their animals from the shelter or had volunteered at the shelter as some point.
The rally was facilitated by the Randolph County SPCA. Organizers gathered signatures on a petition which they presented to county commissioners during the public comment period. Angie Allred told commissioners the petition included 5,570 signatures of people who want to see the gas chambers removed from the shelter and replaced with lethal injection for euthanasia.
Standing in a circle outside the courthouse, Linda Barnes of Franklinville said when she first became a volunteer at the shelter, she was horrified to discover the county still used gas to kill abandoned and unwanted animals.
Alyssa Murkin of Asheboro said she adopted Moss, her Border collie mixed breed, from the shelter. She adopted Moss in October. She said it was heartbreaking to visit the shelter.
“I wanted to adopt every one (of the animals there),” she said.
Cortney Griffiths of Asheboro, who said she volunteered at the shelter before she began working regularly, adopted Roxie, a Labrador mixed breed, from the shelter. She said that even if using lethal injection cost the county more and taxes had to be increased to cover the cost, it would be worth it to know the animals would suffer less pain.
During the public comment period, several people addressed the board directly.
Randy Griff said he believes it is more expensive to operate the gas chambers than to use lethal injection, especially when the cost of insurance for the facility is factored in.
Sandy Tuttle of Kernersville said she was appalled when she heard Randolph County is one of 10 counties in North Carolina that still uses carbon monoxide gas to kill shelter animals.
“I came in support of the people who have come out against this,” she said.
Iris Fox said she lives in Asheboro but was born in Connecticut. She said she never saw anything like this in that state.
“North Carolina is a wonderful place. Why can’t we get this right?” she asked.
Donna Lawrence of Greensboro, organizer of Susie’s Hope, was also at the protest in support. Susie’s Hope is a nonprofit organization that fosters awareness of animal abuse. Susie was a pitbull/German shepherd mix that was beaten and set on fire. Lawrence rescued Susie. She told commissioners pets have feelings, too.
“It’s not their fault. They didn’t ask to be born,” she said. “It’s not fair for animals to have to suffer this way.”
Not everyone spoke up for the animals. James McDaniel of Randleman said he read the article on the county animal shelter in Sunday’s issue of The Courier-Tribune. He said he loves animals and wants them to be treated humanely.
However, he said, what caught his eye was the county’s budget for the animal shelter. According to information on a state website, Randolph County budgeted $395,718 in 2012 for the shelter.
“That’s a large amount of money when there are kids who are homeless and hungry. I think we could use some of that money for Randleman Elementary School,” he said.
Commission Chair Harold Holmes thanked the audience for their participation but told them there would be no action on those comments at this time.
What can you do to help end the double gas chambers at the Randolph County Animal Shelter, send a heart felt email to the County Commissioners. Link to reach these Commissioners:
http://www.co.randolph.nc.us/commissioners.htm
FOX8 coverage
http://myfox8.com/2014/02/03/advocates-push-to-stop-euthanasia-of-animals-by-gas-chamber-in-randolph-co/
FOX8 coverage
http://myfox8.com/2014/02/03/advocates-push-to-stop-euthanasia-of-animals-by-gas-chamber-in-randolph-co/
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