Number: 300.26

SUBJECT: EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS Page: 1 Date: 8/17/07

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/28/13 I. PURPOSE

To define the general conditions under which an animal may be euthanized, certain exceptions to those conditions, and the authority of individuals to order the destruction of animals.

II. POLICY Supervising Animal Control Officers (Lieutenants), Senior Animal Control Officers (Sergeants) and Graveyard Shift Officers who are trained and certified in euthanasia may, under specific circumstances and with the approval of the Watch Commander, euthanize animals in the field and after hours.

III. SCOPE These instructions apply to Field personnel

IV. FORMS

Field Euthanasia Report Log

V. REFERENCES OC Animal Care Policy and Procedure 300.20

VI. DEFINITIONS Not applicable.

VII. PROCEDURE

This division is dedicated to the protection of animal health and welfare, also the protection of humans from adverse animal actions. To more clearly define the parameters of our involvement in the treatment of sick, injured or diseased animals, Division Policy and Procedure 300.20 Care of Sick, Injured, or Diseased Stray Animals was designed to serve as a standard operating guide for actions to be taken. This procedure is meant to establish Division operational guidelines for actions to be taken in the euthanization of animals and authority for ordering the euthanization of animals by Field Operations personnel.

Number: 300.26

SUBJECT: EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS Page: 2 Date: 8/17/07

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/28/13

1. Lieutenants and Sergeants certified in the use of firearms may dispatch inherently

dangerous animals to protect their own lives or the lives of any citizen wherein an immediate threat exists. Inherently dangerous animals are classed as those animals or species, because of size, temperament, characteristics, breeding or instincts, pose a threat to the community in general.

2. Lieutenants, Sergeants and Animal Control Officer(s) performing duties as Graveyard

Services Officer must be euthanasia trained and certified prior to euthanizing sick/injured/moribund animals or inherently dangerous animals where no immediate or life endangering situation exists.

3. The intent of this procedure is not to conflict with Section 597.1 of the California Penal

Code, but to restate Division policy for the purpose of clarification.

California Penal Code, Section 597.1(e) states: Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any peace officer, humane society officer, or any animal control officer may, with the approval of his or her immediate superior, humanely destroy any stray or abandoned animal in the field in any case where the animal is too severely injured to move or where a veterinarian is not available and it would be more humane to dispose of the animal. All euthanasia trained/certified Animal Control Officers must be cognizant of the necessary elements contained herein:

a. ACO must have approval to euthanize from his or her immediate superior (and)

b.. Animal must be too severely injured to move (or) c.. No veterinarian is available (and) d.. It would be more humane to dispose of such animal. 4. Euthanasia trained employees will be assigned one bottle of “Euthasol” (or current

brand in use) from the Veterinarian. Every time the drug is utilized, the amount will be listed on the “Field Euthanasia Report Log”. This log will be maintained by the person assigned the drug. When the bottle needs to be exchanged for a full one or replaced due to expiration, the log will be turned in to the vet clinic personnel along with the old bottle.

5. The “Field Euthanasia Report Log” is to be completed as follows:

Number: 300.26

SUBJECT: EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS Page: 3 Date: 8/17/07

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/28/13

a. Date Issued : Enter the date the bottle of Euthasol was provided by the veterinarian.

b. Bottle #: Enter the number hand written on the bottle of Euthasol. c. Bottle Amount: Enter the number of cc’s in the bottle upon issuance. d. Issued To: Enter your name here. e. Issued by: Enter the name of the veterinarian who provided you the bottle. f. Date: Enter the date in which you administered the Euthasol. g. Time: Enter the time in which you administered the Euthasol. h. Impound #: Enter the Chameleon Animal ID number. i. Description: Enter the animals abbreviated sex, breed, color and age j. Condition: Enter the condition of the animal (i.e. moribund, too young, etc.). k. Beg. amount cc: Enter the number of cc’s of Euthosol in the bottle prior to

administering. l. Amt. used cc: Enter the number of cc’s of Euthasol you administered. m. End amt. cc: Enter the number of cc’s left after administering Euthasol. n. Totals: Calculate the number of cc’s administered prior to turning in the sheet

and bottle of Euthasol. o. Date Returned: The date the bottle of Euthasol was returned to the on-duty

veterinarian. The Field Euthanasia Report Log must accompany the bottle upon return.

p. Amt. Returned: Enter the amount of Euthanasia solution left in the bottle upon return. Empty bottles must be returned in the same fashion as those containing Euthasol.

q. Received By: Enter the name of the on-duty veterinarian that received the bottle of Euthasol back.