Miracle dog, Daniel, survived the gas chamber
Daniel is the 'one in a million'
October 2011
Daniel the beagle was a stray in Florence, Alabama, when he was unfortunately placed into a shelter by animal control officials. After he was not claimed or adopted, he was sadly put into a gas chamber to be put down with other unadopted dogs. But after the animal control officer went back to the chamber, there was Daniel, sitting among all the poor little souls who had been euthanized, still alive and wagging his tail!
"He’s one in a million," Linda Schiller, founder of Eleventh Hour Rescue, told the Star-Ledger of Newark. "This doesn’t happen. They don’t survive."
Phil Stevenson, a Florence city spokesman, said that no one is sure why Daniel was the lone survivor.
"It may be that his breathing was shallow because of a cold or something. Or maybe God just had a better plan for this one," Stevenson said.
Stevenson said the gas chamber is a stainless-steel box that's roughly the size of a pickup truck bed. A computer-controlled pump slowly feeds carbon monoxide into the chamber once it's sealed, and an operator presses a button.
"It sort of rocks them to sleep slowly. It's like the cases you hear about where people are overcome by carbon monoxide in their home and just never wake up," he said.
A new operator placed the dog into the chamber with other animals and started the machine, Stevenson said, although it's unclear how many animals were in the chamber in all, or what species.
Three animals have survived the gas chamber in the last 12 years or so, and every effort is made to find new homes for any that do survive, Stevenson said.
Alabama lawmakers passed a law in June to ban the use of gas chambers effective Dec. 31. At the time, Florence was one of only two places in the state using the chambers.
Daniel - the miracle dog
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Daniel with his new friend and family
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A conversation with Daniel...
Hi my name is Daniel.
I am a Beagle mix and I am about one year old.
This is my backyard and boy do I love to play!
I live with Joe, Gerilyn & Jenna Dwyer.
I also have four other siblings.
Spartacus, Rommel, Greta & Shelby!
Did I mention I like to play?
We are one big, happy family.
Things could not be better!
But things weren't always this good.
Not long ago I sat in a shelter in Alabama.
I was taken off the streets as a stray and placed in cage.
They told me I had four days to get adopted.
I figured, "No problem! I'm adorable and charming! I will get adopted right away!"
Well, the four days came and they went.
This adorable & charming boy didn't get adopted after all.
When the man from the shelter came, I got nervous.
What's next for me I thought?
As this man walked me through the hall, I realized my fate.
This is the day all of us dogs fear.
The man placed me in a dark, metal room.
But I wasn't alone, there were others just like me.
Moments later we all began choking. "This is it!" I thought. "This is the end."
But then a miracle happened.
Even though my fellow canine friends were lying lifeless,
Somehow I was still alive!
I must have a purpose in this life and thankfully this man knew it.
His choice to keep me alive is going to make a world of a difference.
I am special dog and I survived for a reason.
Since joining my family I have had the privilege to share my story worldwide.
We were on the Anderson Cooper Show, appeared on TV Ashai &
have had numerous media interviews and appearances for outreach and education!
In addition and most notably, Daniel's Law, named after me of course, will hopefully become law in the stae of PA.
But my journey does not end now, it has only just begun!
We need to keep our animal companions alive and placed in good homes.
I will be your leader but I need your help!
You and I together will make a difference.
Daniel’s Law – Senate Bill 1329
the law named after Daniel
Please help to make it pass
Here's how you can help
Contact Members of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
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Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. (Chair) Senate Box 203047 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3047 (717) 787-3076 Fax: (717) 772-2756 evogel@pasen.gov Senator Michael Waugh (Vice Chair) Senate Box 203028 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3028 (717) 787-3817 Fax: (717) 783-1900 mwaugh@pasen.gov Senator Judith Schwank (Minority Chair) Senate Box 203011 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3011 (717) 787-8925 Fax: (717) 772-0578 senatorschwank@pasenate.com Senator Joseph Scarnati Senate Box 203025 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3025 (717) 787-7084 FAX: (717) 772-2755 jscarnati@pasen.gov Senator Michael Brubaker Senate Box 203036 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3036 (717) 787-4420 Fax: (717) 783-3156 mbrubaker@pasen.gov |
Senator John Eichelberger, Jr. Senate Box 203030 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3030 (717) 787-5490 FAX: (717) 783-5192 jeichelberger@pasen.gov Senator Robert Robbins Senate Box 203050 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3050 (717) 787-1322 Fax: (717) 772-0577 rrobbins@pasen.gov Senator Shirley Kitchen Senate Box 203003 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3003 (717) 787-6735 Fax (717) 772-0581 kitchen@pasenate.com Senator Timothy Solobay Senate Box 203046 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3046 (717) 787-1463 Fax: (717) 772-2108 tsolobay@pasenate.com |
Contact senate leaders and your local state senator and representative
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Senator Jay Costa The Democratic Senate Leader Senate Box 203043 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3043 (717) 787-7683 Fax: (717) 783-5976 costa@pasenate.com |
Senator Dominic Pileggi The Republican Senate Leader Senate Box 203009 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3009 (717) 787-4712 Fax: (717) 783-7490 dpileggi@pasen.gov |
Sample Letter in Support of Senate Bill 1329
Dear Senator _________,
It’s time for Pennsylvania to join the long and growing list of states that prohibit gassing as a method for euthanizing pet animals.
I encourage you to support and move forward Senate Bill 1329, legislation that would prohibit gassing and also require that cats and dogs be euthanized by injection of sodium pentobarbital or one of its derivatives – the method widely considered the most humane.
This issue is extremely personal to me and many other voters who care deeply for our pets. Humane euthanasia is affordable and available, and we no longer need to permit veterinarians and shelters to continue the often inhumane and dated act of gassing. It’s an appalling fact that it remains a perfectly legal method of euthanasia to attach a hose from the tailpipe of a vehicle to a sealed container to suffocate a dog or cat.
I urge you to support Senate Bill 1329 and vote it out of committee now.
Sincerely,
Your name
Sample Talking Points in Support of Senate Bill 1329
- Euthanasia by injection is the safest and least expensive way to euthanize shelter animals.
- Under current Pennsylvania law, pets killed by gassing may be subjected to temperatures of up to 115 degrees.
- Carbon monoxide poses a danger to humans because it is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and highly explosive. In 2000, a shelter worker in Tennessee was asphyxiated to death while operating a faulty gas chamber and others have been injured. In contrast, there are no documented reports of any shelter worker being killed from an accidental injection of sodium pentobarbital
- It can take up to 30 minutes for a dog or cat to die in a gas chamber, whereas an injection causes loss of consciousness within 3 to 5 seconds and clinical death within 2 to 5 minutes.
- Animals don’t always die in gas chambers
Source of the above information: http://www.senatordinniman.com/daniels-law-senate-bill-1329-how-can-i-help
Senate passes law banning animal gassing
By SARA MOSQUEDA-FERNANDEZ, Daily Local News , 03/29/12
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously passed Daniel’s Law to put an end to animal shelters’ gassing of dogs and cats in the state.
“This is a good day for dogs, cats, and the people of Pennsylvania,” said State Senator Andy Dinniman (D-19), who authored the bill. “Because the way we treat our pets is indicative of the way we treat each other, and when we stand up for all God’s creatures, we stand up for our own humanity.”
Also known as Senate Bill 1329, it will now go to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The bill will prohibit the gassing of cats and dogs with carbon monoxide, a method that is used by several shelters throughout the Commonwealth to euthanize animals. In addition, the bill will require veterinarians, animal shelters, and humane society organizations to publicly post how they euthanize animals so that owners can be better informed about this very difficult part of pet ownership.
Dinniman said he introduced the legislation when he learned that it was legal in Pennsylvania to euthanize a dog or cat by attaching a hose from the tailpipe of a vehicle to a sealed container where the animal suffocates to death….
keep reading at Daily Local News
States that Have Banned Dog Gassing (Nov. 2011)
Please, do not leave without signing the petition
and voting for Daniel!
Please sign the petition that is addressed to every state in the US asking for gas chambers to be banned by clicking here!
Please sign, then share and vote for Daniel in the Hero Dog Awards so we can raise even more awareness through the American Humane Association platform and get even more signatures. You can vote every 24 hours thru 6/30 at this link http://bit.ly/VoteDaniel
Each year, millions of animals are euthanized through gassing, which many people do not realize still exists. Daniel is using his second chance at life to advocate for banning gas chambers through "Daniel's Law". He also promotes pet adoption, and "speaks" to the importance of spay/neuter programs.
Daniel made a promise to the animals that didn't make it that day... to dedicate his life to banning gas chambers and saving lives. Daniel is a dog with a mission and he deserves to win! If he wins the upcoming event in Michigan next week, he will go to Hollywood and have a real chance at raising awareness to levels that will get the United States of America to abolish all Gas Chambers.
Let's keep up the momentum; please keep voting for Daniel!
Thank you ❤
