A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to regulate the euthanasia of animals and to specify certain methods of euthanasia of animals.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 
SECTION 1. G.S. 19A‑24(5) reads as rewritten:
"(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. An animal may only be put to death by a method and delivery of method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, but only if this Article and the rules adopted by the Board are silent as to any necessary or required procedure or process for animal euthanasia. The Department may establish rules for the euthanasia process using only American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines. . The rules shall address the equipment, the process, and the separation of animals, in addition to the animals' age and condition. If the gas method of euthanasia is approved, rules shall require (i) that only commercially compressed carbon monoxide gas in containers is approved for use, and (ii) that the gas must be delivered in a commercially manufactured chamber that allows for the individual separation of animals. Rules shall also mandate training for any person who participates in the euthanasia process."
SECTION 2. 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. 
(a)	Euthanasia of an animal in the possession or custody of an animal shelter shall be accomplished only by (i) a licensed veterinarian, (ii) a Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET), or (iii) a Probationary CET under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a CET, and only by one of the following three methods:
(1)	By the administration of a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, or the equivalent of sodium pentobarbital, by the method of intravenous injection.
(2)	By the administration of a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, or the equivalent of sodium pentobarbital, by the method of intraperitoneal injection.
(3)	By the use of carbon monoxide gas.
(b)	The licensed veterinarian or CET shall, in his or her discretion, determine which method of euthanasia, set forth in subsection (a) of this section, is used on each animal. 
(c)	The animal shelter shall keep a log that shall include, for each animal, all of the following information:
(1)	The method of euthanasia. 
(2)	The name of the licensed veterinarian or CET who chose the method of euthanasia.
(3)	The basis or reason for choosing the method of euthanasia that was chosen."
SECTION 3. 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. 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 wearing an owner identification tag 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, in the following preferred sequence:
(1)	Returned to the owner;
(2)	Adopted as a pet by a new owner;
(3)	Sold to institutions within this State registered by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Federal Animal Welfare Act, as amended; or 
(4)	Put to death in a legally authorized manner.
The Animal Control Officer shall maintain a record of all animals impounded under this section which shall include the (i) date of impoundment, (ii) the length of impoundment, (iii) the method of disposal of the animal, and (iv) the name of the person or institution to whom any animal has been released."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2010.