Opinion No. (2002)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General GREGORY L. GONOT Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE JOHN BURTON, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE STATE SENATE, has requested an opinion on the following question: Is it a violation of the state's animal cruelty laws for an animal control officer or humane society officer to use intracardiac administration of euthanasia on a conscious animal in an animal shelter or humane society facility? CONCLUSION It is a violation of the state's animal cruelty laws for an animal control officer or humane society officer to use intracardiac administration of euthanasia on a conscious animal in an animal shelter or humane society facility if the animal may first be rendered unconscious in a humane manner or if, in light of all the circumstances, the procedure is unjustifiable. ANALYSIS The question presented for analysis concerns a particular method of euthanizing sick, injured, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals by an animal control officer or humane society officer in an animal shelter or humane society facility. 1 This method of euthanasia involves the injection of sodium phenobarbital directly into the heart of the animal and is one of several methods…