Friday, February 18, 2011

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-14, notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Agriculture will be adopting amendments to Rule 40-13-13-.08 relating to euthanasia. The Department will be accepting written comments from February 18, 2011, to close of business (4:30 p.m. EST) on March 18, 2011.

SYNOPSIS, MAIN FEATURES AND DIFFERENCES:

It is proposed to amend Departmental Rule 40-13-13-.08 to comply with House Bill 788, which was passed during the 2010 Legislative Session and became law on December 31, 2010, and implemented to change certain provisions relating to the euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or facilities operated for the collection of stray, neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals.

Pursuant to House Bill 788, it is proposed to delete Rule 40-13-13-.08(2) to remove certain provisions relating to the use of a chamber using commercially bottled carbon monoxide gas for euthanasia. Basically, the new rule prevents the use of carbon monoxide gas chambers for the euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or other facilities operated for the collection of stray, neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals and makes sodium pentobarbital, or a derivative thereof, the exclusive method for euthanasia.

Further, the legislative change specifically adds language to Rule 40-13-13-.08(2) preventing the use of a chamber using commercially bottled carbon monoxide gas or other lethal gas or chamber which causes a change in body oxygen by means of altering atmospheric pressure or which is connected to an internal combustion engine and uses the engine exhaust for euthanasia.

The proposed rule change also deletes the current provision which allowed carbon monoxide chambers in use on or before July 1, 1990, provided the Commissioner of Agriculture was notified in writing on or before August 1, 1990.

Interested persons may call to request a copy of the proposed rules or may submit written request to:

Dr. Carter Black, Assistant Commissioner

Animal Health Division, Room 106

Georgia Department of Agriculture

19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Telephone Number: 404-656-3671

FAX Number: 404-657-1357

The Department will be accepting written comments from February 18, 2011, to close of business (4:30 p.m. EST) on March 18, 2011. Written comments shall be considered on March 21, 2011. You may download a copy of the proposed rules from the section to the right.

This notice is given in compliance with the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. §50-13-4.