CITY OF HOMER

City Manager

HOMER, ALASKA

RESOLUTION 02-12

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKASUPPORTING HOUSE BILL 306, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ISSUE PERMITS TO CERTAIN AGENCIES TO PURCHASE, POSSESS, AND USE CERTAIN DRUGS FOR EUTHANIZING DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

WHEREAS, Currently, Alaska is one of the few states that does not have a law allowing animal shelters to obtain euthanasia drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies and only veterinarians are authorized to purchase such drugs; and

WHEREAS, Many agencies do not have a veterinarian on their staff or even in their community and in order to provide this service many shelters are forced to arrange for the purchase of euthanasia drugs through a licensed veterinarian, which often proves cumbersome and places an extra burden of monitoring and supervision on the veterinarian; and

WHEREAS, The alternative is to have a local veterinarian, if available, perform the euthanasia, which can strain or exhaust government budgets due to the cost of a veterinarian's visit; and

WHEREAS,. Policy guidance has been requested to address how these drugs can be legally obtained and used by lay persons working for these agencies; and

WHEREAS, House Bill 306 will allow qualified agencies the authority to purchase, possess and administer certain drugs for the euthanasia of animals and to perform the most humane method of euthanasia; and

WHEREAS, All employees that will be administering these drugs will be required to have successfully completed a euthanasia technician certification course.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska hereby Supports House Bill 306, an act authorizing the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue permits to certain agencies to purchase, possess and use certain drugs for euthanizing domestic animals.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 11th day of February, 2002.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: KURT MARQUARDT, MAYOR PRO TEM

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: NA.