CARE’s Euthanasia Policy

CARE’s animal shelter includes an area of about 1.47 acres and housing for 200 dogs and 50 cats. We occasionally house rabbits and birds as well. We have a strict limit and make every effort to control the number of animals in the shelter in order to protect their welfare. Therefore, when the shelter is overpopulated, we perform a non – periodic examination by the association committee and select targets for euthanasia by unanimous consent. This policy applies only to our shelter.

The association committee – This committee consists mostly of CARE members and board members, and includes a certified and registered veterinarian who advises the committee.

The policy on euthanasia is as follows.

In general, we house and care for each animal for a minimum of one year.

We use the following criteria to determine whether an animal should be targeted for euthanasia:

1. If the animal is suffering from a transmittable disease that could threaten the health of other dogs.

2. If the animal has a violent nature and attempts to bite people or other animals (After such behavior, we conduct an accurate observation for months to see if there is any possibility of improvement).

3. If the animal is too afraid/cautious to trust a human companion (There may be a high possibility of the dog running away after adoption).

4. If the animal is seriously injured or incurable.

5. If the animal is too old for adoption and is having problems getting adopted.

6. If the animal suffers from an illness and needs an expensive treatment (Usually only if the animal has spent more than one year in the shelter).

7. If the animal possesses unfavorable condition(s) for adoption and has spent more than one year in the shelter (e.g. if the dog is too big or too noisy).

8. If the animal is disabled and therefore has less possibility for adoption.

9. When the animals are acquired through a possible animal hoarder, who has agreed to euthanasia, and have not been adopted for more than one year.

10. When the animals are rescued from a dog meat farm and have not been adopted for more than one year.

11. Depending on circumstances, we may also perform euthanasia on healthy animals in order to limit overpopulation.

-Approximately 16% of the animals at our shelter are euthanized each year.

*The procedure and method:

1. Inject Zoletil(0.3ml per kilo) to anesthetize the animal.

2. Inject succinylcoine, a muscle relaxant, to euthanize.

Most of the anesthetic agents that are used in the U.S. (and other developed countries) are not available in Korea. Therefore we use the above medicines to reach the most humane way possible of euthanizing in Korea.

(Reference: Most animal hospitals in Korea use Ketamine instead of Zoletil)

*Do’s and Don’ts

1. Euthanasia shall be done in a sealed room where no other animals can watch.

2. Workers should not express their feelings in front of the animal being put down.

3. The euthanized body should be wrapped with a blanket when it has to be moved.

*Carcass treatment after euthanasia.

1. We are currently in a contractual relationship with a specialized company of pathogenic waste to incinerate the bodies.

2. Konkuk University in Korea manages the animal blood & body donation program which is supported by the RSPCA (UK). We are providing Konkuk University with dead bodies (around 40 per year) from euthanasia. This is to minimize the number of Laboratory animals used for scientific purposes.

**For any worker who does not follow the policy on euthanasia accordingly:

For a first offense, he or she will be warned.

For a second offense, he or she will be forced to resign.

For any committee member, he or she will be dismissed from the committee.