| Question 1 - Do dog pounds use vacuum | | | | a high altitude low vacuum machine which a large |
| machines to kill dogs? | | | | number of dog pounds had used in the past. The |
| A close friend of mine is a professional breeder; | | | | Dog Town officials opine that this method is |
| during a casual conversation with her she told me | | | | reported to be a lot more humane than using gas |
| about a news item published in a Los Angeles | | | | to kill the animals. As per the Dog Town officials, |
| newspaper in the 1970s. The above story is | | | | this system gives the dog a feeling of a happy |
| about a woman rescuing 53 stray dogs from a | | | | sensation or lightheadedness. This sensation is |
| Los Angeles pound. This rescue act was carried | | | | similar to that of the sensation that the pilot feels |
| out because they had planned to execute these | | | | during flying at high altitudes wherein oxygen |
| dogs by using a 'vacuum machine' and then toss | | | | levels are low. |
| them into a grinding machine. The residues were | | | | Using this vacuum system for euthanizing dogs |
| expected to be sold as fertilizer. | | | | has been found to be more humane than killing |
| I crosschecked on this information later and found | | | | them using gas; the dogs tend to panic if gas is |
| that this news was actually published in the | | | | used. Even though this story appears horrifying |
| newspaper. I was shocked when I heard about | | | | we should be thankful that it is not inhumane. The |
| this story and never believed in its veracity. I | | | | story of using grinding machine is really bad and |
| presume that others also may not believe such | | | | this deprives me of my sleep in the night. |
| news. Can you please tell me the truthfulness or | | | | Question 2 - Night Vision Dogs |
| otherwise of this news item? It is horrifying to | | | | I have been hearing rumors from certain sources |
| even imagine that such an inhumane action has | | | | that the dogs won't be able to see properly in the |
| been contemplated in the dog pound. | | | | night; but there are others who vouch for the |
| Answer 1 - We are aware that such type of | | | | dogs having better vision in the night than in the |
| vacuum machines were being used in the past at | | | | day. This is similar to having night vision. Can you |
| least in certain dog pounds in order to put the | | | | educate me on these rumors?" |
| animals to sleep; however we are not sure that | | | | Answer 2 - The dogs' eyesight is poorer than |
| every animal shelter uses this type of method. A | | | | even human beings during the night time whereas |
| direct answer to your question is that this | | | | cats have good eyesight in the night. Although the |
| information is correct although it is unfortunate. | | | | dogs can see better in daytime it is not true to |
| The vacuum machine being referred to by you is | | | | say that they are blind at night. |