History repeats

In the late 1970’s in Victoria, debate raged over the killing of pound animals using a machine known as a ‘Lethanair’ chamber.

 

The ‘Lethanair’ machine was a decompression chamber, which allowed the bulk killing of dogs. Today, we consider decompression as an unacceptable method of euthanasia, as these chambers were designed to produce decompression at a rate 15 – 60 times faster than is humane for animals, resulting in pain and distress due to expanding gases trapped in body cavities. There was also problems using the machine effectively on young or sick animals, with them needing ‘more than one go’ in the machines. Bloating, bleeding, vomiting, convulsions, urination, and defecation were often seen during the machine’s use; all symptoms now interpreted as signs of extreme stress in animals.

In 1977, there were four Lethanair machines in Australia; one at the Lost Dogs Home in Melbourne, one at the RSPCA Burwood, one managed by Frankston Council and the final one in Brisbane. When the Victorian State Parliament Statute Law Revision Committee tabled a report to parliament questioning its use, reporter Kim Lockwood, visited the Lost Dogs Home to view the machine for himself. His article ‘How Lost Dogs Die’ began thus;

I am watching through a small porthole in the front of the machine.
I am watching four dogs die.
It is not pretty. It is not quick.
I never want to see it again.

His conclusion?

The Lethanair must go

The Lethanair machine had been banned in Canada 15 years earlier. Both the British Veterinary Association and the UK RSPCA warned against its use. But it was supported by the animal management organisations of Australia, as being able to stuff 5 or 6 small dogs into the machine at a time was appealing to high-volume facilities and was cited as being “cleaner and easier for staff”.

Groups also maintained that the public were being unreasonably emotional and that the machine was painless.

Mr Frank Murphy, President of the Lost Dogs Home said the decompression chamber destruction of these dogs was “humane, rapid and efficient”.
…
“In our investigation and experience it is the most humane way of dealing with the problem,” he said.

“Instead of people criticising us on this matter, surely they should be more concerned with the huge number of dogs – stray, unwanted or abandoned – which are around Melbourne.

“Surely the public should be more concerned with the cruelty and pain experienced by those animals, than in criticising a duty we have to perform in the kindest possible way.
….
“The dogs can be disposed of with a humane injection, but any man who is trained as a vet could finish up as a ghoul if he did this all day”
The Herald, March 15 1977 page 6

After the Kim Lockwood report was published, there was an enormous outcry from the community.

 

In fact, so hostile was the public’s response, just ten days later, the RSPCA discontinued the machine’s use,

 

The RSPCA today discontinued the use of the Lethanair decompression chamber to destroy stray dogs.

RSPCA president Dr Hugh Wirth said the Australian Veterinary Association was not against the use of the Lethanair.

“The RSPCA has been investigating the use of the Lethanair in Australia for some months.” Dr Wirth said.

“We have been deeply concerned at the mounting public disquiet over the method and are investigating it in depth.”

“We are currently beginning an even more important investigation into the problem of animal over-population – which should be the first concern of all animal welfare organisations.”
The Herald, March 21 1977 front page

 

… and the Frankston City Council resolved to seek an alternative method for killing.

Only one Lethanair machine remained active in Victoria – the one being operated by the Lost Dogs Home North Melbourne. And the board of directors decided at a meeting that they, despite the protests of the animal loving community, would continue to use the Lethanair machine:

 

The Home’s chairmen Mr Frank Murphy said today: “We still think it’s the best method.

“Nobody has come up and said there is anything better.

He said the decision to use the Lethanair was made 10 years ago after a full investigation.

“Nobody yet has given any scientific evidence that there is anything wrong with it,” he said.
The Herald, March 22 1977 page 3

 

Behind the curve

While ‘animal welfare’ groups accepted and embraced a potentially painful and ineffective method to kill pets, the community was able to reason pretty effectively that messing with a mammal’s internal pressure system in an extreme enough fashion that it would kill it, was not what they wanted for the dogs and cats that shared their homes.

It was only when the community demanded change, that that change happened. The reality was, the groups trusted by the community to be acting in the best interests of the pets, were largely working in the best interests of themselves. Stuffing animals into a chamber, while blaming ‘overpopulation’ was easier than holding them and killing them, while blaming ‘overpopulation’. So that is the behaviour they defended.

Today, we know it is possible to save every healthy, treatable pet. We know there is a large potential to save those pets previously considered ‘untreatable’. And we have our major animal welfare groups defending killing while blaming overpopulation, because in many ways it is easier than implementing the programs and services which make the killing unnecessary.

Continuing to put pets to death in a decompression chamber, while the community begs you to stop, is exactly the same feet-dragging behaviour we see today; killing pets with a anaesthetic overdose, while the community begs you to find alternatives.

Just like the groups in the 1970’s, collecting dogs off the street and being paid to kill them in a chamber we now know was extremely inhumane – the shelters still using killing as a tool to manage their pets today, are out of touch with the compassion of their community.

The community is now demanding pounds and shelters release to rescue, rehabilitate and work to adopt pets – not to simply kill them. Only outside community demand now, will make the change we want to see happen.