Pat Quinn Ad Accuses Bill Brady Of Supporting Mass Dog Euthanasia (VIDEO)

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has brought out the big guns, brandishing a cringe-worthy attack ad on GOP challenger Bill Brady that highlights his prior sponsorship of a bill that would have authorized the mass euthanization of pets in carbon monoxide gas chambers.

"Just two days after Bill Brady won the primary for governor, Senator Brady's first priority was to sponsor a bill that would mass euthanize sheltered dogs and cats in gas chambers," the text in the ad reads over a shocking montage of whining dogs being crammed into a metal box. "Bill Brady's law would undo a deal worked out over two years by veterinarians, Farm Bureau, and Illinois' Human Society."

Politifact has since fact-checked the ad and deemed it "half-true:"

Brady's bill, offered the following year, would have widened the options for animal shelters. His bill, which according to media reports was introduced on behalf of a constituent who works in animal control, would have lifted the one-animal-at-a-time limit. That could have made a difference in how shelters calculated whether to use gas chambers instead of injection. For instance, the chambers can be used for "fractious cats, violent dogs or other animals that may subject the staff at the animal control facility to risk of injury," said Peter S. Weber, executive director of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, one of the groups that initially had supported gas chambers prior to backing the 2009 compromise bill.

The ad strays into inaccuracy, however, in its implication that the bill would have mandated euthanasia by gas chambers. It would have rather re-authorized it in cases deemed appropriate by a veterinarian.

Governor Quinn hammered Brady for his support of the bill back in February, appearing at the 109th annual International Dog Show and announcing that being dog-friendly was "a pretty good way to win an election." Brady then quickly removed his name from the legislation in the wake of the criticism.

Scroll down to see the ad.

WATCH:

Comments

[kingshmoopy]

11:58 AM on 10/16/2010

Gas chambers should NEVER be used to euthanize an animal, it's beyond cruel. There are other ways to handle aggressive/feral cats and dogs without subjecting them to gas chamber, which are terrifying and painful and should never, ever be legal. It's bad enough animals are treated like disposable commodities and tossed aside or abused, ending their lives like this is unacceptable.

[ladyearth]

08:39 PM on 10/14/2010

Another right-to-lifer, huh?

[Edward Standley]

08:35 PM on 10/14/2010

He was gonna fly those puppies to interment camps in black helicopters first. And waterboard 'em. Then gas 'em.

[Wasp35]

07:55 PM on 10/14/2010

Definition of political desperation = my opponent kills puppies.

[nogornc]

05:55 PM on 10/14/2010

Wow - that is crushing. I love dogs but people are nutso about their pets these days. He could have sent orphans into the street and it wouldn't work as well as this will.

[MiraMcB]

07:24 PM on 10/14/2010

I agree. I don't know who the man is, but I want to kill him.

[cvbnm67]

05:26 PM on 10/14/2010

Oh no, not the puppies?

[lemosno]

05:19 PM on 10/14/2010

Accusing your opponent of killing puppies reeks of desperation.

[nogornc]

05:57 PM on 10/14/2010

Foreign funded elections, killing puppies - You're done!

[DLCA]

09:32 PM on 10/14/2010

it also shows the character of someone who thinks killing puppies and kittens should be more "efficient" .... the emphasis should be on finding homes for them and keeping them alive until homes ARE found.

[Pandoras Folly]

04:20 PM on 10/14/2010

political ads are covered technically under the 1st amendment. unlike say a laundry detergent ad on tv, they do not have to in any way have proof to back up their statements. opinions stated as facts are enough.

[thegreatdaveo]

08:29 PM on 10/23/2010

They are still subject to libel laws.

[RAW666]

04:19 PM on 10/14/2010

What is really tragic about this is that emotional half truths need to be used instead of the actual facts to convince voters. This issue may well have been a rare example of a republican voting in a rational manner. The general anti-american voting record and beliefs of the republicans do not seem to gain any attention with the voters.

Looking at specifics of this issue, I think that in some cases of totaly feral animals, it is probably more "humane" to kill them in gas or altitude chambers rather than to have to restrain them for lethal injection. However, I do not think it is acceptable to stuff several animals into a chamber at the same time to die. I have passed out in an altitude chamber and can say that there was no sensation of anything being wrong as I passed out.

[Debbie338]

08:13 PM on 10/14/2010

I am a veterinarian and I feel well-qualified to comment on this. CO2 chambers are nothing like altitude chambers. Dogs in CO2 chambers scream, cry, seizure, and loose their bowels. Not simply a matter of passing out. CO2 chambers are considered very inhumane and are systematically being eliminated throughout the country.

[kingshmoopy]

12:04 PM on 10/16/2010

It's very simple to tranquilize an animal in such a way that they never have to be touched by a human (which can be terrifying to a feral animal). For example, a catch pole, a squeeze gate and a quick injection of tranquilizer. When done properly it takes just a moment, unlike death in a chamber which lasts quite a while and is terrifying and painful. Chambers should never be used.

[PathofTotality]

03:33 PM on 10/14/2010

Let me start with the fact that I and my family also rescued a dog a few months ago and are glad we did. The problem is, this article is not about cats or dogs or how many die at a time. It's about one politician distorting the facts to win an election and I quote:

"The ad strays into inaccuracy, however, in its implication that the bill would have mandated euthanasia by gas chambers."


It's the word "implication" that p!sses me off. Politics has become nothing but implications, innuendo, half truths and lies. I here the same rhetoric about lower taxes, new jobs, blah, blah and then begins the mud slinging.

If you are a politician reading this post PLEASE, PLEASE do us a favor and spend all your time and energy convincing the average voter what you will do, what your ideas are, what you believe in. That's all. No more no less because as soon as the mudslinging starts, I believe nothing after that. PLEASE.

[Tamiamgeaham]

11:21 AM on 10/19/2010

The reason for the 'half-truth' is the fact that Brady would give the option in his bill to the veterinarians to 'allow' mass euthanizing techniques. The mandate may have been stretching it a bit, but it is still unethical for Brady to have even suggested such a horrific proposal and it does not lessen the fact that Brady is a heartless thug.

[libwithaclue]

03:18 PM on 10/14/2010

He also eats them..........................

[liberal]

02:26 PM on 10/14/2010

Hello Bill
My twelve pound Dachshund was a rescue.

And I am sure Rosie would take an instant and well deserved dislike to you ..

[PJ M]

01:43 PM on 10/14/2010

Hello Bill,

Butkus, my 150 lb German Sheppard was a rescue ...

And I am sure Butkus would take an instant and well deserved dislike to you ..

[Monk2001]

11:42 AM on 10/14/2010

(R)'s are sick people. They don't care about many other ethnicities let alone the environment or animals. This is not surprising.

[IllinoisObama]

11:23 AM on 10/14/2010

spay and neuter don't k*LL