People are always asking why Second Chance Pet Rescue takes in animals from across the border. Here is the “Ugly Truth” animals are gassed in the southern states, these pets are perfectly adoptable purebred or small breed dogs. These type of dogs are in high demand in Canada but yet are dying daily in the United States. Almost on a daily basis I hear of people talking about breeding their small breed dogs because they are hard to come by. People are breeding small mixed breed dogs so their family and friends can also own a small dog for less then 500.00 dollars. I believe we should fill these homes with rescue dogs, why allow them to die when there is such a high demand for them here in Canada. We do not bring in large breeds that you would find at our local shelters, 80% of the dogs rescued by us are from the Winnipeg Humane Society, Brandon Pound, local vet clinics or rural pounds such as the one in the RM of McDonald.
When the State of Louisiana asked for help for the furry Katrina victims people all over Canada jumped up to help, even paying big bucks to ship large mixed breed dogs to “safety” no one judged these people or commented that “Manitoba” dogs should be saved first. I feel that the living conditions in these pounds in the US are just as bad if not worse then the conditions the Katrina dogs lived in. These pounds will house several dogs in one kennel run, they live on cold unwashed cement floors in mounds of feces while drinking out of green water dishes and eating food (when they occasionally get food) out of piles on the dirty floor. Dogs that are friendly are placed in the same pens as dogs that are bullies, the friendly dogs are attacked and not allowed to eat. These facilities are “convenient” for the owners to get rid of their dogs, they don’t even have to see a animal control officer. All you have to do to surrender your dog is put the dogs in the “drop off” box, these boxes contain all types of unwanted pets often terrified and fights break out, but there is no supervision and dogs become seriously injured. The animal control facilities do not have an onsite veterinarian, and animals are left untreated because they cannot afford to take them to a veterinary clinic. After spending days either terrified or injured they are then shoved in a box and slowly, painfully gassed to death. This happens every day in the US and Second Chance is trying to help put an end to it.

The Ugly Truth (not for the faint of heart)

The Gas Box
Many tax-funded animal shelters in the United States still use carbon monoxide gas chambers to kill unwanted cats and dogs. This method is considered by many to be outdated and inhumane and guess what?! Nothing you can do alone can stop it, but if we work together maybe one day we can put an stop to this horrible way to end to a shelter dogs life. Animals in a gas chamber do not die quickly or painlessly. They struggle for breath. They claw to get out. This is not a pretty site and will stay with you for a very long time. When animals inhale carbon monoxide, they can suffer convulsions, vomiting, angina, and muscular spasms. Some will not die the first time. There is a better, more humane way -- euthanasia by injection. This method is cost effective and takes only seconds.
Shelter workers are at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning when they unload the gas chamber, breathing in low levels of the gas on a regular basis. This can lead to many health problems -- even death. The county is at risk of lawsuits from these workers if they become ill. Carbon monoxide is also extremely flammable, odorless, colorless, and difficult to detect.
The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Animal Control Association, the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights all advocate lethal injection of sodium pentobarbitol. It is considered the most humane, safest, and least stressful choice for euthanasia.
United States has an overwhelming problem with puppy mills, hunters, and backyard breeders bringing more dogs into this world. Perfectly friendly adoptable rare and small breed dogs die daily in kill shelters that use gas chambers. It is out of control, and Second Chance Pet Rescue has experienced first hand the cruel world of overpopulation. Your dog was saved from a place where it would have been gassed most likely from either West Virgina or Ohio. When you cuddle with your dog tonight please keep in mind all the dogs that didn’t get a chance to come to Canada and get a “second chance”. We encourage you to do you part and let people know there is no reason to breed unregistered dogs, especially when purebred, small breed dogs are getting killed everyday. We also hope that you will take it upon yourself to research more information about this problem and sign online petitions, as a group we can make a difference!

Here are some pictures of dogs that were scheduled to be put in the gas chamber. Abby was saved right on time they were getting the gas chamber ready for the day and gathering the dogs, we saved her in the nick of time.

Before (at the pound) and After (in rescue) Pictures Bella Abby Harmony Harry Potter, Hedwig, Hermoine and Hagrid (only Harry and Hedwig shown here)

Links for Gas Chamber Info

Doggie Death Row Adobe Document
Puppies being put in chamber - WARNING VERY UPSETING