SECTION 775:10-8-17. Standards for injection of animals.

  Any person performing animal euthanasia by injection of denatured sodium pentobarbital or other drug approved for animal euthanasia shall comply with the following standards for the injection of an animal:

(1)   Except as otherwise provided in 775:10-8-17(a)(2) and 775:10-8-17(a)(5), an animal shall be held or restrained after injection of a euthanasia drug until the animal is unconscious.

(2)   If an animal should not be held or restrained because holding or other physical restraint would either increase the anxiety or fear of the animal or would place the person holding or restraining the animal in physical danger, it must be placed alone in an enclosure which is appropriate for the species and size of the animal and permits adequate visual observation of the animal, except that dogs or cats under the age of 16 weeks or other animals which have not been weaned may be placed together in an enclosure with their littermates and/or dam.

(3)   An individual administering euthanasia drugs shall have available the assistance of an animal handler when administering an intravenous injection unless the animal is heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose.

(4)   Intravenous injection must be used on all dogs and cats over the age of 16 weeks and any other animal, unless the physical condition, size or behavior of the animal presents a danger to the individual performing the injection or the animal handler; the physical restraint required for intravenous injection would cause unnecessary fear or anxiety in the animal; or the small size of the animal would make location and injection into a vein extremely difficult or impossible.

(5)   A euthanasia drug may be administered by intraperitoneal injection only when the physical condition, size or behavior of the animal presents a danger to the individual performing the injection or the animal handler; the physical restraint required for intravenous injection would cause unnecessary fear or anxiety in the animal; or the small size of the animal would make location and injection into a vein extremely difficult or impossible.

(A)   After an intraperitoneal injection of a euthanasia drug, the animal shall be placed alone in an enclosure which is appropriate for the species and size of the animal and permits adequate visual observation of the animal, except that dogs or cats under the age of 16 weeks or other animals which have not been weaned may be placed together in an enclosure with their littermates and/or dam.

(B)   An animal which has received a euthanasia drug by intraperitoneal injection shall be observed every 5 minutes after injection until death is verified.

(6)   Intracardiac injection shall not be performed on any animal unless it is heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose.

(7)   The gauge and length of the needle used shall be appropriate for the size and species of animal and the method of injection.

(8)   A new, unused disposable needle of medical quality shall be used for the administration of denatured sodium pentobarbital or other drug approved by the Board for euthanasia to each separate animal. A needle that is barbed or that may otherwise cause unnecessary discomfort to the animal shall never be used. Each needle shall be disposed of in a commercial sharps container immediately after a single use.

(9)   The same syringe may be used to inject more than one animal so long as:

(A)   A separate syringe is used for each euthanasia agent and each syringe is clearly labeled with the name of the drug for which it is used;

(B)   All disposable syringes must be discarded in a commercial sharps container after the conclusion of all euthanasia procedures for a single day.

(C)   All non-disposable syringes shall be cleaned and disinfected after the conclusion of all euthanasia procedures for a single day.

(10)   An animal may be euthanized under field conditions when an emergency situation requires euthanasia to eliminate animal pain and suffering or is required for the safety of the public.

[Source: Added at 18 Ok Reg 1379, eff 5-11-01; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3371, eff 5-21-01 (emergency); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1872, eff 7-1-02; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1052, eff 7-1-10]