Person County animal shelter stops using gas chamber

Officials said the county wanted to end the use of lethal gas by July 2013, which would be the close of the current fiscal year. But Animal Services staff surpassed the goal by stopping use of the gas chamber within the last month.

Animals that must be euthanized are now anesthetized before being given a lethal injection.

“While there is an increased financial cost of approximately $7,000 per year to institute this change, staff is fully committed to this change,” officials said in a news release.

About 67 percent of the animals taken in at the shelter are euthanized, officials said. Out of 1,502 animals brought to the shelter so far this year, 285 have been rescued, 117 have been adopted and 73 reclaimed. Animal Services responds to more than 100 complaints and takes in about 170 animals a month.

Officials said the county is participating in a matching grant program to provide low-cost spay/neuter clinics, which will be announced in a few weeks.