Dog Survives Gas Chamber At Alabama Shelter, Is Sent To New Jersey For Adoption

A 20-pound beagle named Daniel surprised animal control officials after escaping death in a gas chamber, reports the Associated Press.

After no one claimed the stray dog at a shelter in Florence, Alabama, Daniel and 17 other unadopted pets were sent to the gas chamber, notes the New Jersey Star Ledger.

But after 17 minutes, Daniel was the only pet to miraculously survive, said animal control officer Vincent Grasso of Florence, Alabama in an interview with NBC.

The dog has now found refuge in Rockaway, New Jersey, after Linda Schiller, founder of Eleventh Hour Rescue arranged for the dog to be flown up north with the help of Pilots N Paws, a network of registered pilots who voluntarily relocate animals to rescue groups, reports The New Jersey Star Ledger.

Florence city spokesman Phil Stevenson says no one is sure why Daniel survived, but cites three animals who've survived the gas chamber over the past 12 years or so, reports AP.

The Humane Society estimates that between six and eight million animals are brought to shelters every year, and three to four million of them are euthanized in the gas chambers.

Schiller is hopeful Daniel's survival will raise awareness of the campaign to stop gassing unadopted pets. Many states have banned gas chambers for euthanizing pets, including Alabama. But that law won't come into effect until next year, reports NBC.

Visit Petfinder.com or the ASPCA website to learn more about adopting a pet in need of a home.

Comments

[mb11689]

05:17 PM on 11/14/2011

I hate these stories about killing off dogs. It makes no sense!!! I feel terrible for them all...

I am actually a filmmaker, and I have started searching around the internet to see if there are any people at all willing to become involved in a film I am making about a dog and it being rescued.

The film could actually be summed up in the following sentence:

After inadvertently causing a horrific accident, Kurt Lawson has lost all hope and feels that nothing can turn his life around, until he finds Dakota, a siberian husky who is much more than just any other dog.

If you are at all interested, I'm hoping for small donations to help bring this film to the big screen.

Just visit www Kickstarter com and search for "Dakota the Movie" if you want to help us.

Hopefully this film will really show the world how important animals are to all of us.

[me515]

03:02 PM on 11/01/2011

This breaks my heart. I'm so glad he made it! I understand these things happen, just heartbreaking in general

[Max Shaw]

01:15 PM on 11/01/2011

Alabama continues to lead the way in backwards, backwoods animal treatments. Kudos guys.

[DMSmith]

02:43 AM on 11/01/2011

You go, Daniel. Good dog!!!!

[bcmom]

10:29 PM on 10/31/2011

If you think gassing chambers are cruel, google heart sitcks. Many places still kill animals that way.

[Judith Jaehn]

12:12 PM on 11/02/2011

I know, it's horrific

[purplewolf63]

10:43 AM on 11/17/2011

heart sitcks??

[Sawyer99]

11:28 AM on 10/31/2011

Euthanasia happens everywhere in the county - people shouldn't take on a pet unless they are willing to offer a lifetime commitment, training and exercise.

The shelters take a lot of heat - however whether they promote or not there are too many pets coming in and too few going out. I know breeders mean well but they add unfair competition to the lost dogs who sit in shelters.

Here in NJ just because gas chambers aren't used it doesn't mean there aren't pets being euthanized closer than you think.

Please Spay and Neuter. I wish it was mandatory.

[Chad Wheeler]

02:49 PM on 10/31/2011

Do you think that the person who wants a Maltese puppy is going to go to the shelter and suddenly decide they want a rambunctious teenage Lab mix instead?

[bcmom]

10:27 PM on 10/31/2011

No you are right. However, they an now find that Maltese puppy or go to a breed specific rescue and get their Maltese instead of buying one where people will keep breeding them. I see death every day at AC. They cannot keep up with the number of animals dump there and I do mean dump. They walk out and it is no longer their problem. However, they did buy these animals and if they want to euthanize them, take them to their vet and have them euthanized. Instead, of everyone else doing their dirty work. Out of sight out of mind does apply very well to animal control facilities. No one wants to go to these shelters and see the numbers euthanized.

[Sawyer99]

11:13 AM on 10/31/2011

And FYI the dog in my profile is another lost dog I photographed and then he was sent to heaven before we figured out a place for him in rescue. :(

[Sawyer99]

11:11 AM on 10/31/2011

The bottom line is that people shouldn't take on an animal unless they are willing to make a commitment to it for life.

Dogs are a lot of work. They look cute but without exercise and training they can be very destructive. If you value your furniture and clothing more than a living creature then maybe a fish would be a better fit.

Spay and Neuter also need to be mandatory. Breeders, we know you mean well but there are already so many souls that need homes who don't need the added competition.

Sadly the killing isn't just in the south. We are losing animals too here in NJ because there aren't enough people stepping up to adopt them. It is very sad. Gas chambers are less humane but killing healthy animals with a needle doesn't sit right with me either.

Please don't get a puppy if you haven't thought it through.

[Chad Wheeler]

03:04 PM on 10/31/2011

It's odd then that shelters in NJ have brought in dogs from the South US to put up for adoption.

http://www.aspca.org/Pressroom/press-releases/051011.aspx

[DebbyM]

08:24 AM on 11/04/2011

So maybe no one in one part of the country wants that particular dog but maybe in another part of the country someone is looking for just that sort of dog and voila, he has a home! That was so hard to figure out wasn't it?

This way, more exposure for homeless dogs and maybe more find forever homes.

[purplewolf63]

10:49 AM on 11/17/2011

I totally agree..you dont just get an animal,keep them for a month or so & then dispose of them.People are really stupid.My dog is my family & I would never think of just "dumping" him somewhere!! I absolutely hate seeing these animals killed,esp by carbon monoxide etc...but I understand that there's far too many that need adopted.Such a shame.I would adopt every single one if I could!!! They bring so much joy to people.

[Judith Jaehn]

11:02 AM on 10/31/2011

We have been fighting the South for years to get rid of these horrible, cruel chambers of horror. They refused to listen to their people so we all got together on facebook and have written letters, put together petitions, sent faxes, and called, to no avail. We won't quit until this ends. Breeding dogs should be against the law. Mankind has lost is compassion for these dear hearts...We must keep up this fight until these machines of horror are banned! So glad this little one was saved.

[Shain Eighmey]

02:28 PM on 10/31/2011

If breeding dogs is against the law, then how will we get more dogs? Someone has to make more dogs.

[Judith Jaehn]

03:17 PM on 10/31/2011

9 million dogs are killed every year so there will always be many to adopt. I should have said puppy mills should be stopped, what they do is horrific!

[Adam Nolin]

07:47 AM on 10/31/2011

Man...... I wish I had the wealth and the land to provide for all of the orphan critters. I love my own rescued dog but I feel guilty at the same time that I'm unable to take on more animals that need it. *sigh*

[purplewolf63]

10:51 AM on 11/17/2011

I know exactly how u feel

[Shain Eighmey]

04:42 AM on 10/31/2011

Seriously people? If you're going to gas the dogs, then be sure that you're doing it right. It's just cruelty if they survive, which is exactly what animal shelters are trying to avoid.

[DebbyM]

08:26 AM on 11/04/2011

It's a nightmare for the dogs as they are tossed into the box in groups where there is terror and fighting to survive, to escape! Why is that not cruelty as far as you're concerned?

[LynnW49]

12:29 AM on 10/31/2011

If you have a dog that runs free, get it spayed or neutered.
If you want a dog, visit a shelter.

[DebbyM]

08:27 AM on 11/04/2011

Don't let your damn dog run free! How's that for a solution to all kinds of problems?

[rabiddog6708]

08:34 PM on 10/30/2011

This lucky dog gets a second chance at life. Many others, unfortunately, are not so lucky.

[lafrance]

08:25 PM on 10/30/2011

it is unspeakable the way they kill these poor little animals. thankfully there are now more and more places that will not do such things.
I have 2 rescued cats and am thankful they were able to escape such fates. far too many are not so lucky.

[bcmom]

10:30 PM on 10/31/2011

People have got to alter their animals and backyard breeders, puppymillers, and pet stores need to be put out of business. And yes, there will be more than enough animals for people to have as pets. Even then animals would still be killed. It is not going to stop.

[DebbyM]

08:28 AM on 11/04/2011

That's right it won't stop because people are selfish and thoughtless and far too many are more interested in their ever changing 'wants' rather than how their decision will impact an animal or several animals or the environment......

[feaupaw123]

07:52 PM on 10/30/2011

These are the kinds of stories that should be on the 6:00 news or the Today Show and the likes. Not just telling this dogs' story, but educating the public on how many dogs and cats are euthanized each year. Even a tv commercial could get that message out to people. I bet more people would be horrified to know that animals are still being gassed. There is so much bad going on this world but people would rather report on what celebrity is doing what these days. So sad. I think I will write my Governor and find out what he is willing to do for the animals in California.