Definition of Terms

Medically Necessitated Euthanasia
Euthanasia is considered for animals who are suffering from a contagious, serious or chronic illness. Euthanasia may also be requested for injured animals who are suffering or cannot be treated with reasonable efforts to avoid unnecessary suffering.

Behaviorally Necessitated Euthanasia³
Euthanasia request for behavioral reasons may be generated by a concern that the animal poses an unmanageable threat to staff and public safety or to other animals or by a concern for the quality of life an animal is likely to achieve when behavior modification regimes cannot lessen the exhibition of severe distress. Examples where euthanasia may be considered include:

1. Injury Inflicted
   Animals who at any time during their stay inflict injury to a person or another animal through biting or severe scratching. Each injury incident will be immediately reviewed and assessed on an individual basis for on-going safety considerations. An animal assessment will be made by the Animal Services Manager and the Animal Center Director. Instances considered to be isolated will result in the animal being returned to the adoption program after the required quarantine period and further behavior assessment.


2. Threatening Behavior
   Animals who at any time during their stay display threatening behavior with an intent to intimidate or harm a person or another animal. Each incident will be reviewed and assessed on an individual basis to determine potential for escalation. An animal assessment will be made by the Animal Services Manager and the Animal Center Director. Animals whose threatening behaviors are considered isolated incidents will be observed regularly. Complete behavior re-assessment by the Animal Center Director and Animal Center Manager, and when appropriate an approved behaviorist, is required before re-entry to the adoption program.


3. Intolerance of Handling
   Animals who cannot tolerate normal handling or kennel housing procedures, who display extreme fearfulness or exhibit extremely rough responses, or require more than a reasonable amount of accommodation. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to: slower handling, use of treats or other motivations, removal from kennel or cage for cleaning procedures, limiting contact to selected staff members, changing location for handling procedures, environmental enrichment, kennel shields, limited muzzling for medical procedures, etc.


4. Distress
   Animals who exhibit distress to the point of self-injury. This may take the form of not eating, self-mutilation, constant vocalization, constant pacing, elimination problems, etc. All efforts will be made to improve their environment in an attempt to provide some relief to the animal.