Recently, I watched a documentary titled, “One Nation Under Dog”. I would recommend only watching this with no children present. There is one scene I wish to talk about in the documentary. Keep in mind the definition of euthanasia.
Euthanasia- Also called mercy killing. the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition; painless death.
The scene opens with men taking dogs out of kennels and placing them into a steel, square dumpster style chamber. Some dogs are scrambling to get away and look terrified as they are caught by the men and carried to the chamber. They are crammed into this chamber and the lid is closed and sealed by the men. The whole time this is going on, the cameras do not show their faces or indicate the location. The men step away from the chamber and the camera follows one of the men to another part of the kennel.
As the camera enters this area, you can see gas tanks/welder’s tanks attached to a hose leading back to the chamber. The man reaches up and turns the knob, and then the camera pans back to the chamber where you hear the dogs in the chamber screaming. I mean literally screaming. You can hear the agony. By this time I am ready to wretch up my dinner and I am sobbing uncontrollably because I cannot believe the cruelty I am witnessing.
Then the camera shows the man turning the knob off and it follows him back out to the chamber where he opens the lid and the camera pans over the dead dogs. One dog in particular, is laying there with its eyes open. They looked like they all died painfully. Then the men go and get puppies and place them on top of the dead dogs and they repeat everything all over again. The howling was horrible. At the end of the scene the men unhook the gas hoses and a dump truck drives up to take the dead dogs away.
Now, read the definition again. The last part when it says “painless death,” what is so painless about that scene? Let me be clear, this should not be happening. Places like this should be held accountable. If you check around, you may find that some Veterinarians are paid to euthanize dogs. Blood money is not worth your soul, and I believe God holds them accountable that do this. Yes, we have an overpopulation issue with pets, but, spaying and neutering are only part of the answer. It’s time to stop this and expose it for what it really is, “HITLERISM”. We have an inherent responsibility to take care of these dogs. Look at your dog and think, “What if it was them?” Say, your dog got loose and the local animal control catches them. Yes, here there is a 5 day stray hold. What if you don’t check with the pound and you sit home missing your “Baby” and their time runs out? Not saying that here in Limestone they gas the unwanted pets, but what if?
Lastly, we need more or bigger “No Kill Shelters”. Support your local no kill shelters, adopt a pet, and let’s raise up our voices to stop this cruelty.
“Remember to love your dogs because they love you. Maybe not the way you want them to, like chewing up your favorite shoes or what not, but that is just love chewing. Be thankful for the time you have with them always.”
By: Joel and Zues Allen
Professional Dog Trainer and Service Dog
256-651-2211
