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Lawmakers decided Friday that a proposal to ban animal euthanasia by gas chamber in Utah shelters needs more study.

After some animal control agencies opposed the bill, the Senate Government Operations Committee unanimously recommended that SB197 be sent to interim committees for study during the coming year.

Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, sponsored the bill saying that while no one wants to kill dogs or cats, "If we have to do it, we should do it in the most humane way possible."

Gene Baierschmidt, executive director of the Humane Society of Utah, testified that Utah is one of only nine states where monoxide gas chambers still are allowed. And of 57 shelters that the Humane Society tracks in Utah, 49 now use lethal injection instead.

"The process of the gas chamber, we believe, places undue stress on the animal," he said. "It can create terror."

He said if chambers are not properly calibrated, "It may take a long time for them to lose consciousness. Even in the best chambers, it takes minutes." But "when animals are injected with euthanasia drugs, they can lose consciousness in 3 to 5 seconds. And they lose all ability to feel stress and fear."

But some animal control agencies disagreed.

Debbie Pedersen with South Salt Lake Animal Services, said chambers are sometimes more humane in dealing with aggressive or feral animals. Injecting them instead often requires muzzling and holding down the animal by several officers. She also said chambers are quick, with animals losing consciousness in a minute.

Pam Rasmussen with South Jordan animal control said chambers also work better with wildlife, such as raccoons, which can have rabies or other dangerous disease. She said taking away the chamber "is like taking a bullet-proof vest from a police officer."

Baierschmidt said Utah shelters are euthanizing far fewer animals in recent years. "In 1999, there were over 45,000 dogs and cats euthanized in Utah shelters. It has now dropped down to 12,000."