16 Del. Admin. Code § 4501-11.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 4501-11.0 - Euthanasia Methods and Procedures for Animal Shelters

11.1 The use of sodium pentobarbital or sodium pentobarbital in combination with phenytoin sodium shall be the exclusive drugs for euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters, given by the following acceptable methods:

11.1.1 Intravenous injection by hypodermic needle;

11.1.2 Intraperitoneal injection with sodium pentobarbital alone by hypodermic needle, if intravenous access is distressful, dangerous, or impractical and the animal is less than 10 lbs; or

11.1.3 Intracardiac injection by hypodermic needle may be performed only by a licensed veterinarian and only when performed on a deeply anesthetized or unconscious animal to whom intravenous or intraperitoneal cannot be successfully administered due to animal's physical condition.

11.2 Pre-euthanasia anesthetics shall be administered to animals who are aggressive, severely distressed, or frightened as directed by the shelter veterinarian. This does not prevent the use of pre-euthanasia anesthetics for other animals as instructed by the shelter veterinarian.

11.3 Small animal species other than dogs and cats should be humanely euthanized by the preferred methods recommended by the manuals listed in subsection 10.2.2.4.

11.4 Large animal species shall be euthanized by a licensed veterinarian proficient with the handling of horses and livestock.

11.5 To assure safe and humane euthanasia technique, a minimum of 2 persons shall be required for any euthanasia procedure. One person shall be a licensed veterinarian, licensed veterinary technician, or a certified euthanasia technician, and 1 or more persons shall be a handler. The handler should be trained in safe and humane animal handling techniques.

11.6 The identity of each animal to be euthanized must be determined with certainty prior to the procedure. This includes but is not limited to scanning for a microchip, verification of sex, breed, shelter ID number and distinguishing markings, and verifying that the animal is properly designated for the procedure.

11.7 Euthanasia must be authorized by the animal care/control manager, director, or veterinarian as appropriate for each animal for which euthanasia is performed. Documentation of this authorization shall be kept in the animal's record and a copy provided to the Department upon request.

11.8 No animal shall be left unattended between the time euthanasia procedures are first begun and the verification of death.

11.9 No animal shall be permitted to observe or hear the euthanasia of another animal, nor permitted to view the bodies of dead animals. This provision shall not apply to puppies and kittens with their mothers. When selected for euthanasia by the shelter veterinarian, mother animals should be euthanized prior to their offspring. The puppies or kittens should be euthanized immediately following the mother.

16 Del. Admin. Code § 4501-11.0

27 DE Reg. 530( 1/1/2024) (Final)