A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for humane euthanasia of animals in animal shelters.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 19A‑23(9) is repealed.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 19A‑24 reads as rewritten:
"§ 19A‑24.  Powers of Board of Agriculture.
The Board of Agriculture shall:
…
(5)	Adopt rules on the euthanasia of animals in the possession or custody of any person required to obtain a certificate of registration under this Article.  The Department shall establish rules for the euthanasia process  consistent with the restrictions on euthanasia contained in G.S. 19A‑26.1. The rules shall address the equipment, the process, and the separation of animals, in addition to the animals' age and condition.  Rules shall also mandate training for any person who participates in the euthanasia process."
SECTION 3.  Article 3 of Chapter 19A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 19A‑26.1.  Euthanasia of shelter animals.
Euthanasia of an animal in the custody of an animal shelter shall be accomplished only by a licensed veterinarian or a certified euthanasia technician administering a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, or the equivalent of sodium pentobarbital as approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or the American Veterinary Medical Association:
(1)	By a method of intravenous or intraperitoneal injection that results in rapid unconsciousness and immediate death; or 
(2)	By oral injestion of powdered sodium pentobarbital in capsules mixed with food, with the animal remaining separated from other animals until dead.
Under no circumstances may succinylcholine chloride, curare, curariform mixtures, or any substance that acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent be used on an animal in the custody or possession of an animal shelter for euthanasia."
SECTION 4.  Effective April 1, 2011, G.S. 19A‑26.1, as enacted by Section 3 of this act, reads as rewritten:
"§ 19A‑26.1. Euthanasia of shelter animals.
(a)	Euthanasia of an animal in the custody of an animal shelter shall be accomplished only by a licensed veterinarian or a certified euthanasia technician administering a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, or the equivalent of sodium pentobarbital as approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or the American Veterinary Medical Association:
(1)	By a method of intravenous or intraperitoneal injection that results in rapid unconsciousness and immediate death; or 
(2)	By oral injestion of powdered sodium pentobarbital in capsules mixed with food, with the animal remaining separated from other animals until dead.
Under no circumstances may succinylcholine chloride, curare, curariform mixtures, or any substance that acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent by used on an animal in the custody or possession of an animal shelter for euthanasia.
(b)	No animal shelter may maintain on its premises any facility or equipment used for the euthanasia of animals with carbon monoxide or any other gas."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 130A‑192 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A‑192.  Dogs and cats not wearing required rabies vaccination tags.
The Animal Control Officer shall canvass the county to determine if there are any dogs or cats not wearing the required rabies vaccination tag. If a dog or cat is found not wearing the required tag, the Animal Control Officer shall check to see if the owner's identification can be found on the  animal by owner identification tag or by microchip. If the animal is wearing an owner identification tag, or if the Animal Control Officer  otherwise knows who the owner is, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner in writing to have the animal vaccinated against rabies and to produce the required rabies vaccination certificate to the Animal Control Officer within three days of the notification. If the animal is not  identified by an owner identification tag or by microchip and the Animal Control Officer does not otherwise know who the owner is, the Animal Control Officer may impound the animal. The duration of the impoundment of these animals shall be established by the county board  of commissioners, but the duration shall not be less than 72 hours. During the impoundment period, the Animal Control Officer shall make a reasonable effort to locate the owner of the animal. If the animal is not reclaimed by its owner during the impoundment period, the animal shall be disposed of in one of the following manners: returned to the owner; adopted as a pet by a new owner; sold to institutions within this State registered by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Federal Animal Welfare Act, as amended; or put to death  only by euthanasia as authorized by G.S. 19A‑26.1. The Animal Control Officer shall maintain a record of all animals impounded under this section which shall include the date of impoundment, the length of impoundment, the method of disposal of the animal and the name of the person or institution to whom any animal has been released."
SECTION 6.  Any gas chambers in the custody or possession of an animal shelter in this State shall be dismantled, destroyed, or otherwise removed from the premises no later than April 1, 2011, in compliance with the provisions of G.S. 19A‑26.1(b).
SECTION 7.  Section 4 of this act becomes effective April 1, 2011. The remainder of this act becomes effective January 1, 2011.