RALEIGH, N.C. -- New regulations for the use of euthanasia at North Carolina animal shelters could go into effect as soon as April.

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Wednesday morning, the Board of Agriculture approved a version euthanasia rules that allow animals to be put to sleep through lethal injection or carbon monoxide gas.

 

"There have not been those standards so there's a lot of disparity at shelters across the state," said Brian Long, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture. "We're trying to bring everyone into compliance and make sure that everyone does it in the same, humane manner."

 

Scott Helms, president of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, told board members that the American Veterinary Medical Association considers carbon monoxide poisoning an acceptable and humane form of euthanasia when used appropriately, and that in some cases, it is the preferable method.

 

"There are certain wild animals that have not been handled sufficiently so that the safe administration of an injectible agent is appropriate," Helms said.

 

"If they were to use carbon monoxide," said Long. "There are going to be pretty stringent requirements in terms of the types of equipment that has to be used, the training that has to be given to the staff, they'll be subject to regular inspections."

 

Before the approval, board members omitted a section that would require carbon monoxide gassing to be phased out by the year 2012.

 

The Department of Agriculture has been working to create new state regulations since 2005 after being ordered to do so by the General Assembly.

 

In July and October, public hearings were held on versions of the regulations, during which some animal rights activists urged the board to ban the use of carbon monoxide for euthanasia and to promote spaying and neutering of animals.

 

The approved version of the regulations will soon go before the state's rules reviews commission.