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Supporting

Euthanasia Resources

This section offers information related to AVMA euthanasia guidelines

California Livestock Euthanasia Requirements

AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines

Pet Loss Support

Euthanasia Training Guidelines

CALIFORNIA VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD

Order of Adoption

2039. Sodium Pentobarbital/Euthanasia Training.

(a) In accordance with section 4827(d) of the Code, an employee of an animal control shelter or humane society and its agency who is not a veterinarian or registered veterinary technician (RVT) shall be deemed to have received proper training to administer, without the presence of a veterinarian, sodium pentobarbital for euthanasia of sick, injured, homeless or unwanted domestic pets or animals, if the person has completed a curriculum of a least eight (8) hours as specified in the publication by the California Animal Control Directors Association and the State Humane Association of California entitled “Euthanasia Training Guidelines” dated October 24, 1997, that includes the following subjects:

  1. History and reasons for euthanasia
  2. Humane animal restraint techniques
  3. Sodium pentobarbital injection methods and procedures
  4. Verification of death
  5. Safety training and stress management for personnel
  6. Record keeping and regulation compliance for sodium pentobarbital

 

At least five (5) hours of the curriculum shall consist of hands-on training in humane animal restraint techniques and sodium pentobarbital injection procedures.

(b) The training curriculum shall be provided by a veterinarian, an RVT, or an individual who has been certified by the California Animal Control Directors Association and the State Humane Association of California to train persons in the humane use of sodium pentobarbital as specified in their publication entitled “Criteria for Certification of Euthanasia Instructors in the State of California” dated September 1, 1997.

Reference: Business & Professions Code, Section 4827.
Authority: Business & Professions Code, Section 4808.

To obtain a copy of the “Euthanasia Training Guidelines” or “Criteria for Certification of Euthanasia Instructors in the the State of California”, write to: State Humane Association of California, P.O. Box 299, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Or call (831) 647-8897.

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