Category Archives: Euthanasia

Swine caretaker turnover rates and labor shortages plague the U.S. swine industry. According to a National Pork Board report in 2016/17, swine caretaker turnover rates were 35% and 20% for large and small to mid-size farms, respectively. In addition, production worker was identified as the most difficult position for recruitment.

One option to manage labor shortages is to seek out qualified caretakers through visa programs. This option is being utilized on U.S. swine farms with J1, H1B, H2-A, and TN-visa holders, as well as Green Card holders, being recruited by 41% of large producers and 9% of the small to mid-size producers (National Pork Board, 2017).

Despite the labor force from immigrant and migrant caretakers, a 2018 study (Boessen et al.) commissioned by the National Pork Producers Council reported negative growth rates in rural U.S. counties, which threatens pig producing firms. Immigrant and migrant caretaker rates entering rural labor markets, which had historically offset negative growth rates, have also been declining due to improved economic conditions, declining population growth, easier access to higher education in Latin America, stricter immigration controls and enforcement, and an aging domestic immigrant labor force (Boessen et al., 2018; Hanson et al., 2017). Currently, Hispanic and Latino caretakers make up 19% of the total animal production and aquaculture workforce in the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics & Population Survey, 2020). Therefore, it is important to understand workplace factors and perceptions affecting this demographic to effectively recruit and retain qualified swine caretakers.

Conducting euthanasia has been reported as a significant stressor for companion and laboratory animal caretakers (Rohlf & Bennett, 2005; Scotney et al., 2015). Animal caretakers have reported feeling stressed when they had to euthanize animals they had been caring for, which is labeled the caring-killing paradox (Arluke, 1994). In the swine industry, Matthis (2004) noted that although 68% of all swine caretakers reported that they feel fine after conducting euthanasia, 29% expressed negative emotions, such as, feeling sick to their stomach, thinking about euthanasia all day, or were generally sad. Furthermore, Matthis (2004) reported, Spanish-speaking employees were the least willing to euthanize pigs compared to the English-speaking employees (44% vs. 29%).

Despite limited research investigating swine caretaker euthanasia perceptions, recent exploratory studies have concluded that there is an opportunity to address caretaker mental wellbeing through animal euthanasia resources and training (Edwards-Callaway et al., 2020; Simpson et al., 2020). Thus, our objective for this project was to investigate Spanish-speaking TN-visa caretaker demographics and swine euthanasia perceptions on a commercial sow farm.

Twenty-eight caretakers from a single swine company in central Iowa were enrolled in this study. All visa-holding employees at this company held a TN-visa. All caretakers completed a Qualtrics survey in Spanish, adapted from work published by Rault et al. (2017). Questions were categorized into 12 sections: empathy affect, empathy attribution, negative attitudes toward pigs, confidence knowing when a pig is healthy, relying on others to help provide pig care, insufficient knowledge regarding sick or compromised pigs, willingness to seek knowledge in dealing with, treating, and managing sick pigs, perceived time constraints, using available resources (i.e. the veterinarian, coworkers) to obtain advice in diagnosing sick pigs, comfort with the euthanasia process, trouble deciding and avoiding euthanasia, and feeling bad about euthanizing. Non-demographic questions were structured using a five-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree), with a prefer not to answer option. For this article, the last three sections will be further discussed: (a) comfort with the euthanasia process, (b) trouble deciding and avoiding euthanasia, and(c) feeling bad about euthanizing.

Demographics: Fifty-four percent were 30 years of age and 46% were >30 years of age, comprising 64% male and 36% female. All caretakers were migrant workers from Mexico. The majority (68%) had a masters or professional degree and 32% had a bachelors degree. The average time caretakers have resided in the U.S. was 2 years and 4 months, and the average time working with pigs was three years and four months (Table 1).

Results: When comparing responses to questions on comfort with the euthanasia process, trouble deciding and avoiding euthanasia, and feeling bad about euthanizing, little to no difference was observed between adult pigs and piglets. While the majority of caretakers felt comfortable conducting euthanasia (79%), some did indicate being uncomfortable (11%). Nearly one-fifth (18%) indicated that they were less likely to euthanize a sow close to farrowing. Avoidance of euthanasia may compromise the animals welfare and contribute to non-compliance of procedures in audits. Moreover, about one-third (32%) and a quarter (25%) of caretakers agreed or strongly agreed, respectively, that there are good reasons not to euthanize adult pigs or piglets. When euthanasia is conducted, 43% of the caretakers reported being able to dissociate from thinking of the animals feelings. Dissociation is a coping mechanism experienced during very difficult events. Caretakers (32%) also indicated feeling bad about euthanizing pigs and piglets, despite acknowledging that it was the correct course of action (Table 2).

Overall, preliminary results of this research provided insight into the perspective and challenges experienced by Spanish-speaking caretakers regarding aspects of comfort, decision and avoidance, and feelings surrounding the euthanasia of adult pigs and piglets. Providing clear guidelines on specific circumstances that absolutely require pigs to undergo euthanasia, along with education on the caretakers duty to avoid suffering in lieu of life preservation, may alleviate some of the negative feelings experienced. Furthermore, providing a support structure for the caretakers mental wellbeing before, during, and after euthanasia during on-boarding and on-farm training could be very beneficial in reducing the high caretaker turnover rates and retain caretakers on our swine farms.

Summary points:

Sources: Jacob Yarian, Anna Johnson, Suzanne Millman, Jason Ross, Brad Skaar, Kenneth Stalder, Iowa State University; Monique Pairis-Garcia and Ivelisse Robles, North Carolina State University; Andria Arruda, The Ohio State University; and Cassandra Jass, Iowa Select Farms, who are solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly own the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

References

Arluke, A. (1994). Managing Emotions in an Animal Shelter. Animals and Society: Changing Perspectives, January 1994, 145165. https://www.academia.edu/25664726/Managing_Emotions_in_an_Animal_Shelter?auto=download

Boessen, C., Artz, G., & Schulz, L. (2018). A Baseline Study of Labor Issues and Trends in U.S. Pork Production. March, 41.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U., & Population Survey, C. (2020). HOUSEHOLD DATA 10 . Employed persons by occupation , race , Hispanic or Latino ethnicity , and sex [ Percent distribution ]. https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat10.htm

Edwards-Callaway, L. N., Cramer, M. C., Roman-Muniz, I. N., Stallones, L., Thompson, S., Ennis, S., Marsh, J., Simpson, H., Kim, E., Calaba, E., & Pairis-Garcia, M. (2020). Preliminary exploration of swine veterinarian perspectives of on-farm euthanasia. Animals, 10(10), 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101919

Hanson, G., Liu, C., & McIntosh, C. (2017). The Rise and Fall of U.S. Low-Skilled Immigration.

Matthis, J. S. (2004). Selected Employee Attributes and Perceptions Regarding Methods and Animal Welfare Concerns Associated with Swine Euthanasia. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107415324.004

National Pork Board. (2017). Employee Compensation & HR Practices in Pork Production 2016-2017 Report.

Rault, J. L., Holyoake, T., & Coleman, G. (2017). Stockperson attitudes toward pig euthanasia. Journal of Animal Science, 95(2), 949957. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas2016.0922

Rohlf, V., & Bennett, P. (2005). Perpetration-induced traumatic stress in persons Who euthanize nonhuman animals in surgeries, animal shelters, and laboratories. Society and Animals, 13(3), 201220. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568530054927753

Scotney, R. L., McLaughlin, D., & Keates, H. L. (2015). A systematic review of the effects of euthanasia and occupational stress in personnel working with animals in animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and biomedical research facilities. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 247(10), 11211130. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.10.1121

Simpson, H., Edwards-Callaway, L. N., Cramer, M. C., Roman-Muniz, I. N., Stallones, L., Thompson, S., Ennis, S., Kim, E., & Pairis-Garcia, M. (2020). Preliminary study exploring caretaker perspectives of euthanasia on swine operations. Animals, 10(12), 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122296

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Euthanasia perspectives of Spanish-speaking caretakers - National Hog Farmer

South Australia is one step closer to legalising voluntary euthanasia after the state's Upper House voted in support of the voluntary assisted dying bill.

Legislative Council membersvoted 14 to 7 in favour of the proposed legislation late on Wednesday night.

It was the 17thattempt to pass the measure through South Australia's Parliament in 26 years.

If passed in the Lower House,the proposed new laws will likely to come into forcein the statewithin 18 to 24 months.

The bill, which is modelled on Victoria'svoluntary dying laws,includes 70 safeguards and requires approval by two separate doctors within a prescribed time frame.

It proposes access to voluntary euthanasia for people aged 18 years and over who have lived in South Australia for at least one year and have been diagnosed with an incurable illness, disease or medical condition.

Their terminal condition must be deemed to cause suffering andexpected to cause death within weeks or months.

Labor MLCand author of the bill Kyam Maher said it was a respectful and deeply emotional debate.

"I want to thank the many South Australians who have been in touch with me on this issue over the last six months.It has been a rare privilege indeed to share some of the most intimate and difficult moments of your life,"the Shadow Attorney-General said.

"The fact that you take your time in those last precious moments to try and ensure that others don't have to suffer and go through what you do is an extraordinary thing.

"It's the first time we've passed voluntary assisted dying through a chamber of Parliament in South Australia and now it goes to the Lower House in the coming weeks."

Labor MP Clare Scriven told Parliament she would not support the bill and voted against the proposed legislation.

"No-one wants to see someone they love suffer, but there is clear evidence for those who care to look that safeguards in voluntary assisted dying are ignored or diluted in practice once voluntary euthanasia becomes legal," she said.

"We need to ask do we want our loved ones to feel pressured to end their life, do we want our loved ones to feel they are a burden on society or on their family, do we want our loved ones to feel they have a duty to ask to die prematurely?"

Liberal MP Dennis Hood also voted against the bill andinstead advocatedfor better palliative care.

When terminally ill teenager Rhys Habermann deliveredhis final message four years ago, hisaimwas to protecthis parents from the risk of prosecution.They are now fighting to spare others the same anguish.

"I contend that we should give these individuals who are in this precarious situation the opportunity for their pain to be relieved, before they take what might be the ultimate solution if you like and that is accept assisted suicide,"Mr Hood said.

The legislation will now be sent to the Lower House for a final vote.

If passed in the Lower House, South Australia will become the fourth state in Australia to legalise euthanasia.

Voluntary assisted dying is lawful in Victoria, while Western Australia and Tasmania alsopassed legislation in favour of euthanasia.

Tasmania'sHouse of Assembly voted in favour of the proposed laws in March. Legislation allowing the process in Western Australian will come into effect on July 1.

ABC News: Lincoln Rothall

SA'sHealth Minister Stephen Wade voted in favour of the bill and said there was significant value in having national consistency of voluntary assisted dying legislation in Australia.

"Consistency would support access, it would support quality and safe practice and it would reduce the pressure for what is sometimes called medical tourism," he said.

"I support South Australia joining our sister states in enacting the Australian model of voluntary assisting dying."

SA Greens parliamentary leader Tammy Franks said it was important that enough time was set aside for a full debate on the matter.

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"We've got it through one house, now we need to see it pass the Lower House," she said.

"It's a conscience vote and a private members' bill, which means it often goes to languish in the one hour or so afforded for private members'business in the Lower House. I would hope that this bill will be treated differently.

"Each and every MP will have to go through all of the fine detail, consider their position and debate the well over 100 clauses."

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SA's Legislative Council passes voluntary euthanasia bill, Lower House to have the final vote - ABC News

Nikki and Dan Phillippi. Photo: NikkiPhillippi/YouTube

Theres only one thing that could get the internet this riled up: dogs. YouTubers Nikki and Dan Phillippi revealed they had euthanized their nine-year-old bull terrier, Bowser, in a YouTube video on Monday, after an incident in which he bit their 1-year-old son, Logan. The dog reacted to Logan taking food from him, the couple said, but the injury wasnt bad and their son has a little mark. In the moment, Im thinking I grew up with the movie Old Yeller and I wanted to pick Bowser up by the back of the neck and take him to the backyard and put him down right there, Dan Phillippi says in the video, adding that Bowser had injured other dogs in the past. They claim the Humane Society told them rehoming would be impossible, so they used a euthanasia service to him put him down at home. In addition to the YouTube video, Nikki Phillippi posted an Instagram slideshow of a photo shoot with Bowser before his death, which included photos of the dog with their child. Her Instagram account has since gone private.

The post and video have received mounting backlash over the past week. For many, the controversy is a flashback to last year, when YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer were denounced for rehoming their adopted son. Several influencers, including Jaclyn Hill, Jeffree Star, and Tana Mongeau, have commented on the situation. YouTuber LaurDIY, who also owns a bull terrier, posted an entire reaction video,in which she says, They failed to set boundaries for their child and their dog, who has obvious past, unaddressed trauma that was their responsibility to correct and rehab. The outrage continues below.

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Family Vloggers Euthanize Their Dog, Prompting Collective Why? - Vulture

Stricken with cancer of the larynx, Ray Hardy was nursed through his final days by his loving son Kevin.

It was that deeply personal experience that saw Kevin dedicate his lifeto palliative care nursing.

More than two decadeslater, he is one of the leading practitioners in the palliative care sector as he delivers Calvary Hospital's home care for the terminally ill.

"I believe dying is a natural part of life, it certainly comes in different forms for different people and cancer, chronic illness, is one of those things," Mr Hardy said.

"As a society, I don't think we are doing enough to actually talk about death and dying and preparing for death and dying."

Mr Hardy is open about his personal view againstthe Voluntary Assisted Dying Billcurrently going through South Australia's parliament.

It is the 17th time in 25 years the euthanasia debate has rested on the conscience vote of politicians.

ABC News: Matthew Smith

Mr Hardy believes changing the law would interfere with the "dying process".

He said he was not comfortable with the concept of society saying it was OK for someone to end their life because they were suffering, when "we're not doing all we can do to provide people with support at that time".

"And if we talk about suffering, there is a lot of suffering in other aspects of health we talk about mental health issues, several neurological conditions that children and young adults have."

Mr Hardy admittedsome palliative care patients hadspoken to him about euthanasia and he hadalways been able to say that it was against the law.

Palliative Care SA does not have a stance on the euthanasia bill.

The organisation saidwhether the bill was successful or not, an additional amount of more than $29 million must be put into the palliative care sector every year.

Executive director Mark Water said this would have far-reaching benefits.

"This leads to less ramping, it leads to less unnecessary procedures in hospital," he said.

"It would lead to people staying out of hospital and supported at home or in the place they've chosen to die."

ABC News: Matthew Smith

Just hours beforethe debate gets underway in parliament's Upper House on Wednesday night,a rallywas held outside.

Petrina Young felt compelled to attend after the painful death of her father Peter from cancer in November.

"It's not peaceful and it's not pain-free and it's difficult because it's sadit's awful seeing someone suffer that way," she said.

"When voluntary assisted dying is available in other states and other countries, it just feels like it just feels not fair."

If the bill passes through the Upper House, it will still need similar support in the Legislative Assembly to become law.

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Euthanasia rally held as SA Upper House set to debate bill and others call for palliative care funding - ABC News

BRATTLEBORO A colony of 31 cats living at a property on Putney Road was trapped, spayed or neutered, and given vaccinations if needed.

Annie Guion, executive director of Windham County Humane Society, received a call from Brattleboro Animal Control Officer Cathy Barrows around February or March.

Then we had to do our homework to come up with a plan and get all the pieces in place, Guion said. With the colonies, the advice is to try and get everybody done at one time. If you do it piecemeal, you dont keep up with the reproduction rate. You do all this work but you dont shrink the colony.

Humane society staff started trapping cats in the middle of a Monday before a veterinarian clinic scheduled the next day. They were trapping until 7 p.m. that Monday then went back the following morning to get the last remaining cats, Guion said.

Part of the planning involves the weather. Trapping shouldnt happen when its super cold or wet unless the traps are going to be covered, Guion said.

Monadnock Humane Society took five of the cats for a barn cat program, and a local volunteer and animal advocate took seven cats for re-homing as working cats, according to a newsletter from the humane society published last month.

Nineteen cats were returned to the colony a better size than 31! states the newsletter. Now that the majority of the cats are spayed and neutered, the colony will continue to shrink, the cats will roam less and there will be less fighting and fewer injuries. The female cats will not be worn out by endless litters of kittens.

Guion said the humane society has provided services to trap, neuter and return cats to local areas for a long time. She remembered helping a local farmer years ago with 60 cats on a property.

Research shows that Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the humane and effective approach for community cats, states alleycat.org. TNR improves cats health, saves their lives when they otherwise would have been killed in shelters, addresses community concerns, stabilizes colonies, and helps cats and people coexist.

The humane society tends to help with cat colonies in smaller numbers. Colony managers will bring in three or four cats at a time, Guion said.

With people staying home more during the COVID-19 pandemic, she anticipates there might be more big colonies that need services in the future. One upcoming project involves a residential area on Elliot Street in Brattleboro.

Guion hopes to get volunteers to go door to door to let neighbors know whats going on. Shes encouraging everyone on Elliot Street with a cat to put a break-away collar on their pet so they dont inadvertently get trapped.

Writing for the 4 Legs & A Tail magazine, Guion said animal welfare organizations have made huge advances in how they work with cats.

It used to be that stray cats who werent friendly or healthy were euthanized in shelters Eu, she wrote. Euthanasia is not cheap and its hard on staff. Legal requirements to hold a stray for five or more days led to overworked staff and a shelter full of terrorized cats whose fate was euthanasia after days of torturous imprisonment.

Bringing a cat to a shelter is a good way to ensure the animal doesnt get back to their home, Guion wrote.

Nationwide, an estimated 2 percent of cats are claimed in shelters, she wrote. At the Windham County Humane Society, that figure is 21 percent. Better, but by no means good. Research shows that when a dog goes missing, owners start looking that day. Cat owners wait three or more days, often assuming their cat has been hit by a car or been eaten by a predator.

Guion called a cultural bias against collars on cats a problem.

Owned cats end up in shelters or roaming free in local colonies and predating on wildlife, including songbirds, she wrote. If the cats have not been sterilized, a small population can grow at an alarming rate. Just removing cats from a colony doesnt actually work. Trapping and euthanizing cats leads to the vacuum effect. Remove 30 cats and 30 more will move in! Its also very stressful for the cats to be moved to a new location. Keeping free-roaming cats in cages is inhumane.

TNR is the best approach for managing community cats, Guion wrote. She said researchers found that 75 percent of a colony needs to be spayed or neutered to stop population growth.

The approach is more humane, saves non-profit and government funds and doesnt wear down staff with endless euthanasia, she wrote. Managing colonies and keeping them small protects wildlife, including our beloved song birds. Like many animal issues, cats are not really the problem. Humans are. We domesticated cats and we need to take more responsibility for our feline friends.

Guion suggests getting cats fixed, microchipped and collars that have their owners phone number on them. She also recommends keeping cats inside or building a catio so they can safely enjoy watching wildlife.

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Colony of cats trapped, neutered and released | Local News | benningtonbanner.com - Bennington Banner

Mike Easterling, Farmington Daily Times Published 11:31 a.m. MT May 5, 2021

Cherokee, a 3-year-old Great Pyrenees mix, is one of the animals available for adoption this week through the Empty the Shelters being held at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter when adoption fees have been reduced to $5.(Photo: Photo by Farmington Regional Animal Shelter)

FARMINGTON The Farmington Regional Animal Shelter is part of a nationwide effort over the next few days to find a new home for thousands of animals.

The Empty the Shelters event takes place May 5-9 at 200 shelters and rescue operations over 36 states, including the shelter in Farmington. Adoptions through the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter will be reduced to $5 during the event, thanks to the national sponsorship of the BISSELL Pet Foundation.

The low-cost or free pet adoption events are something the Farmington shelter have offered repeatedly over the past several years to great effect. The tradition began in 2017 with a free adoption event and continued in 2018 and 2019 with low-cost adoption events.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no event was held in Farmington in 2020.

"They've always been extremely successful," Christa Chapman, marketing and public relations specialist for the city's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs department, said of the events. "We're hoping that will continue to be the case."

Most, if not all, of the shelter's animals have wound up being adopted during the events in the past, she said, allowing the facility to quickly reduce its numbers at a time when the intake of animals traditionally reaches its peak.

"In the spring, they're taking animals in so quickly because of all the litters being born," she said, explaining that the shelter could be overflowing with animals if not for the aggressive effort to find adoptive families for them. "It helps keep down the euthanasia rate."

Froggy is a 6-year-old orange tabby available for adoption at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter during the Empty the Shelters low-cost adoption event.(Photo: Photo by Farmington Regional Animal Shelter)

Chapman said the shelter usually takes in 400 to 500 animals per month in the fall and winter, but in the spring and summer, that figure balloons to 600 to 700.

The past events at the Farmington shelter have been sponsored by different organizations. Chapman said this is the first time the shelter has gotten a grant from the BISSELL Pet Foundation to support the reduced fees.

More than 18,000 pets were adopted through the nationwide Empty the Shelters event in 2020, according to a press release. Nearly 50,000 pets have found a new home under the program over the years.

Anyone interested in adopting an animal needs to begin by visiting fmtn.org/AnimalShelter to make an appointment. Potential adopters must have a valid email address and complete an Empty the Shelters survey.

Adoptions will take place on a first-come, first-served basis, and adopters are limited to one dog and two cats per household during the event. More information and a list of adoptable pets are available on the FRAS website.

Chapman said the shelter's population on the afternoon of May 4 included 100 dogs and 40 cats. Another 30 dogs and 61 cats were in foster care and will become available in a couple of weeks, she said, so shelter officials are hoping to make room for them with this event.

Call the shelter at 505-599-1098 for more information about adopting a pet. Visit http://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters-donations/ to learn more about donating to the BISSELL Pet Foundation.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription.

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Farmington Regional Animal Shelter offering $5 adoption fees this week - Farmington Daily Times

According to provisional 2020 year-end statistics,Alzheimers diseaseremained among the leading causes of death, increasing last year by almost 10%. Indeed, deaths from all types of dementia increased last year, accounting for many nursing home deaths and reflecting a lack of family visitation and stimulation.Canada was especially hard hit. Areportby the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that as of May 25, 2020, 80% of COVID-19 related deaths were people in long-term care facilities and retirement homes, many of which instituted lockdowns and restricted or eliminated visits from family members.

Researchers found that the rates of loneliness and hopelessness in the aged increased during these lockdowns, causing confinement syndrome, which resulted in more older people inquiring about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). [1] While not a direct cause of increased euthanasia or assisted suicide, the lockdowns were considered an accelerant.

Nancy Holland

On October 20, 2020, with the prospect of another lockdown squarely in front of her, Canadian nursing home resident Nancy Hollandhad herself euthanized. Mrs. Holland, aged 90, was doing well for her age, but according to her daughter, over the lockdown period her mental health and happiness severely declined. There was nothing preciselymedically wrongwith Nancy, who would regularly walk to the library, do her own shopping, and was a spry and social woman for whom social contact was like oxygen.

But as weeks of intermittent in-room isolation imposed by her nursing home dragged on to months, she declined physically and mentally.Faced with a second round of lockdowns and isolation, Nancy made the decision to seek a medically assisted death.

Many who met the criteria and [would have] wanted MAiD are choosing to die sooner than they would otherwise because the retirement lockdowns, particularly visitor restrictions, are so miserable.

Dr. Susan Woolhouse, Canadian Association of Maid Assessors and Providers.

Originally, Canadian euthanasialegislationwas limited to the terminally ill.At the time of Mrs. Hollands death, according toHealth Canada, MAiDwas available if a physician had determined that an individual was:

in an advanced stage of irreversible decline, experiencing unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be relieved andwhere ones natural death has become reasonably foreseeable.

Nancys first request to her doctor was refused. But with the prospect of stricter isolation and Canadas long winter, she deteriorated and developed concrete medical issues and once again considered MAiD. She made a second request, and this one was granted.Surrounded by family, she died on October 20.

When you cant look forward to getting out of your room, to having meals or doing activities with others, to even seeing your own families and loved ones, you can imagine for a person in the last few years of their life where these are the basic things that actually bring them joy and really defined what they would call their own quality of life, when you actually deprive a human being of these things, you can imagine that that can have significant psychological consequences that can really give people no real will to live anymore.

Dr Samir Sinha, geriatric specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Other countries recognized that the decline in long-term care residents was due to enforced isolation. The Netherlands, with one of the most permissive euthanasia laws in the world, found a balance between precautions and allowing activities and family visits. Aftera pilot project, the Netherlands officially permitted nursing homes to adopt a program allowing one visitor per resident.

But even as its older population died from COVID-19, Canada contemplated relaxing its MAiD regulations. Critics said that the proposed changes would make Canadas law among the most permissive in the world. Bill C-7 was meant to give access to MAiD to people whose naturaldeath is not reasonably foreseeable.Opponents toBill C-7contended that it endorses a prejudice that life with a disability has less dignity or is less worth living; transforming MAiD from a procedure to facilitate dying into a terminal therapy for lifes suffering.

Three weeks ago, on March 17, 2021, after a year of debate, Bill C-7became law.Under the new law, a persons natural death no longer needs to be reasonably foreseeable -- and both active euthanasia and medically assisted suicideare allowed. The necessary conditions are that the candidate is:

The Global Push

Four days later,Spainlegalized euthanasia, becoming the fifth country to do so. Here, too, terminal illness is not a required prerequisite, althoughsuffering from a serious or incurable disease or a serious, chronic and incapacitating condition, which causes intolerable suffering, is required.

"Today we are a more humane, just and freer country. The euthanasia law, widely demanded by society, finally becomes a reality."

Spain'sPrime Minister Pedro Sanchez

Portugal,too,is on the cusp of broadening its laws. (Itslegislatureenacted it, but their high court struck it down as imprecise.It is expected to bere-introduced.)

Yet even the most permissive MAiD regimes globally including Belgium (where euthanasia accounts for 2.4% of all deaths), the Netherlands, and Luxembourg treat MAiD as a last resort, available when no other options remain. But those who do not have a medical condition and are just tired of life and therefore dont qualify for MAiD can still be helped. This comes by way of various Swiss groups, for example,Pegasos,and a perverse form of medical tourism. Dutch citizens seeking to end their life, but without a medical reason, can travel to Switzerland, where aPegasosprovides the assist for assisted suicide.

Pegasos offers an assisted dying service to approved adults of sound mind, regardless of their country of origin/ residence. Pegasoswebsite

And while, under Belgian law, euthanasia for tiredness of life is not permitted, doctors can circumvent the law by diagnosing polypathology a jumble of ailments which nearly every elderly person has, and amalgamated, are asufficient cause for euthanasia.

Not everyone, however, is supportive.Germany and Australia have put billson hold or failed to pass them.The authors of a recentarticleintheJournal of Medicine and Philosophyarticle argued that Belgian euthanasialaw is broken ethically, administratively and legally.A few months ago,UN human rightsexperts expressed alarm at a growing trend to enact legislation enabling access to medically assisted dying based largely on a disability or disabling conditions supported by an aggressive and well-organized disability rights community. These experts claim that legislation allowing euthanasia for the non-terminally ill relies on quality of life, arguments often made by the disabled. The aged, who may feel subtly pressured to end their lives prematurely due to attitudinal barriers and the lack of appropriate services and support, are similarly vulnerable, although without powerful NGO advocacy on their behalf. And that brings us back to Nancy Holland.

Two months after Mrs. Holland took her life, vaccination changed the COVID-19 picture entirely. How many elderly who chose to die because they couldnt face another lockdown would have chosen to live if they could have seen around the corner to vaccinations release from the bondage of isolation? We can only wonder.

[1]Suicide is the act of killing oneself.Assisted suicide, also calledmedical aid in dying(MAiD) orphysician-assisted suicide (PAS), is committed with theassistanceof another person, often a health professional, but the actual act is performed by the patient who self-administerdrugs, usually, but not always,barbiturates. Ineuthanasia(also called "mercy killing"),another party brings about the person's death. The terms are often usedinterchangeably.

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Euthanasia in the Days of COVID-19 | American Council on Science and Health - American Council on Science and Health

Carol Onley, 66, is dying.

She's leaving behind unfinished paintings in her "she-shed", a loving extended family, and a supportive partner.

"More than 10 years ago now, I had my first diagnosis of lung cancer which was amazingly shocking," she said.

After a successful surgery and course of immunotherapy, Carol got back to living.

"But in 2019 I had some symptoms which seemed quite unusual, so I went and had a CT scan, and yes, those little nodules had now absolutely exploded."

After a lifetime as a mental health nurse and a smoker, Carol knew what was ahead of her.

"Through my nursing career I was quite aware of voluntary assisted dying (VAD), that it had become available to people in my position," she said.

"[At the] beginning of this year, I've embarked on that program."

ABC Gippsland: Rio Davis

Under Victoria's VAD program, two doctors need to independently verifythe patient is of sound mind and has less than six months to live for a physical illness and 12 months for a neurological condition.

But living in regional Victoria has made the process more difficult.

"I was actually shocked to find in Gippsland there were only two doctors available who could make that assessment," Carol said.

There are just 76 doctors in regional Victoria trained to help terminally ill people access the VAD program.

"I have family, I have good supports who've helped me all through this and they can take me to wherever I've needed to go," Carol said.

"I've just wondered about people who live further afield from Orbost or Bairnsdale, if you don't have quite so much good access to supports, how do they access the program?

"There just seemto be some barriers that are a little too difficult for people to overcome."

Victoria's VADprogram, which came into force in 2019, was the first state-based program in Australia.

In a statement, a Victoriangovernment spokesperson said the legislation was leading Australia.

"Our voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians with an incurable illness at the end of their lives a compassionate choice," they said.

"This service has been expanded through regional Victoria and we continue to encourage more medical practitioners to become involved to allow greater access across the state."

But the board charged with reviewing the program found there were "limited numbers" of GPs trained to consult on euthanasia in far east and west Victoria.

Supplied: Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board

A former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Betty King, is the chair of that board.

Supplied: Betty King

"[We've recommended the government] encourage more specialists to do the training and sign up for the program,it's a busy practice andthere is so much for most specialists in regional Victoria to do, without this additional time," Justice King said.

"It does take time.This is not an easy and quick process.

"It's certainly been one that's designed to be safe, and when you have a lot of safeguards built in it does take time, so it's very difficult for them to take that time out of their practice."

Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying board is set to table its final report onthe program in Parliament in August.

But as other states bring in VAD programs of their own, there isanother problem facing regional Australians trying to access euthanasia.

"So much now in medicine, particularly regionally, depends upon telehealth; unfortunately telehealth is not permitted for VAD, because federally some legislation was introduced to prevent [euthanasia advocate] Dr [Philip] Nitschke from sharing methods of suicide online," Justice King said.

Breaking these laws could incur fines of up to $222,000 for individuals or $1,110,000 for businesses.

"It potentially prevents our doctors in Victoria from being able to use telehealth to discuss things and talk to patients and that really is a major inhibitor," Justice King said.

"We have called on the Commonwealth to just exempt voluntary assisted dying from it, because we are a government, organised, legal process, but so far they have not been willing to do so."

In a statement, the federal government said people should have access to quality palliative care.

"The government has no plans to amend the suicide-related material offences in the Criminal Code."

ABC News: Jacqueline Breen

DrNitschke, once investigated for testing the purity of a drug usedin a terminally ill man's suicide, said the introduction of the amendment in 2005 was targeted.

"It's often a piece of legislation that I think people aren't aware of, and it was an insidious introduction that came in under the Howard government with Philip Ruddock as Attorney General, that I think the public were never really aware they were having a pretty basic and fundamental freedom eroded," he said.

As more states begin their VAD programs, Dr Nitschke said the federal government neededto change the code to ease the burden on regional Australians.

"It's certainly something that needs addressing if we're to see uniform legislation and equal access to what's available in these new end of life pieces of legislation sweeping across Australia," he said.

In geographically vast Western Australia, the tyranny of distance will rule regional access when its voluntary assisted dying program begins in June.

Western Australia's Australian Medical Association president,Andrew Miller, said more resources would be needed to compensate for the ban on telehealth.

"It's the same situation that there is in Victoria, things have to be put in place to enable face-to-face consultation, they're going to have to put some resources into that," Dr Miller said.

The Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island have not been able to make laws on euthanasia since the federal government quashed the NT's program in 1997.

Two weeks ago, the ACT's health minister and oppositionleader passed amotion of "profound disappointment" that the federal government was continuing to block euthanasialaw.

A statement made by the federal government in response said:

"The government currently has no plans to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997."

ACT Health Minister Tara Cheyne said the federal government's ban on territories making euthanasia laws was a human rights issue.

"There is a separate issue here from voluntary assisted dying it is about democratic rights and we'd like to see the call coming from right across federal parliament," she said.

Supplied: Carol Onley

Carol does not know when she is going to take the drugs that will end her life.

It is a delicate balance.

"You've gotta be with it enough to do it, so I can't let the situation roll on too far, I've got to have enough dexterity to take the medication," Carol said.

"It's very confronting.

"I've been with family members who've passed away my sister had Motor NeuroneDisease, she had to go right to the end of that disease because there were no other options for her."

After a life of adventure, service and love, Carol admits she's a little bit of a "control freak".

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to die with dignity," she said.

Link:

Telehealth ban for voluntary assisted dying makes life, and death, difficult for the terminally ill in the country - ABC News

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Seattle, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In honor of Heartworm Awareness Month, Greater Good Charities, in cooperation with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, the maker of HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), and The Animal Rescue Site announced today the launch of the Good Flights program. The goal is to transport 2,000 shelter dogs from Louisiana, where they are at risk of euthanasia, to new homes on the East Coast. That number includes 1,000 asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs. The program is part of the Greater Good Charities Save a Heart initiative, which aims to reduce shelter euthanasia in overcrowded shelters by preventing and treating heartworm disease in shelter dogs, while transporting adoptable asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs to safety.

According to the American Heartworm Society, Louisiana is one of the leading states in heartworm infection rates in the United States.1 That puts heartworm-positive shelter dogs in Louisiana at a higher risk of euthanasia due to the length of care, space required and cost of treatment.

Canine heartworm disease is a dangerous and life-threating illness for infected animals, andSave a Heart, a life-saving initiative of our newly launched Good Flights program, will be a historic game changer for these at-risk shelter dogs who are battling this disease, said Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities. We are extremely grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), for making it possible for us to bypass the prohibitive cost of treatment by graciously covering medical costs and providing the necessary product for these dogs in need, and to The Animal Rescue Site for helping fund the transport and providing sheltering and foster supplies.A special thank you to the Banfield Foundation for helping to cover the costs of veterinary care forparticipating shelter pets of Save a Heart.

The inaugural Save a Heart mission will take place April 19-20, 2021 via three planes carrying approximately 120 at-risk shelter dogs, with 50% of the dogs being asymptomatic heartworm positive, from Louisiana (Lafayette and New Orleans) to Morristown, N.J. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additionally, in late April, a ground transport carrying 35 at-risk shelter dogs, with 50% of the dogs being asymptomatic heartworm positive, will depart Southeast Louisiana to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Participating shelter partners in Louisiana will include Acadiana Animal Aid, St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter, Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter, St. Martin Parish Animal Services, Caras House, Washington Parish Animal Shelter, and Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center. The receiving shelter partners include St. Huberts Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey and the Humane Society of Broward County in Florida.

This initiative will allow 1,000 asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs that are transported via Save a Heart to receive initial medication, in accordance with the American Heartworm Society's recommendations, prior to transport. The Greater Good Charities Good Flights team will work in concert with veterinary teams to select candidates that are positive for heartworm disease and are not showing clinical signs of the disease which qualifies them for transport. Upon arrival at their destination shelter, the heartworm-positive shelter dogs will ideally be placed into foster or adoptive homes to complete heartworm treatment and be monitored until they test negative.

With current euthanasia rates of heartworm-positive dogs in partner Louisiana shelters, the alternative to a Save a Heart flight and treatment is life in a stressful, overstimulating shelter environment and, very often, humane euthanasia due to lack of resources, said Julie Ryan-Johnson, DVM, Associate Director of Shelter Programs at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, which makes HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), a real beef chew that prevents heartworm disease in dogs and treats and controls hookworm and roundworm infections.

Save a Heart flights and ground transports will occur approximately 2-3 times a month for one year after the inaugural mission. Each Save a Heart trip will transport 50% asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs, (1,000 for the year) with an additional 1,000 heartworm-negative shelter dogs, for a total of 2,000 shelter dogs over the course of the year relocated to safety. Additionally, the initiative will help nearly 2,500 heartworm-positive shelter dogs that are not transported; those dogs will receive medication in Louisiana via the Save a Heart initiative, saving even more lives.

Good Flights is staffed with trained and seasoned animal welfare transport professionals who adhere to best practices in pet transport. Good Flights covers all transport costs and provides mentorship to sending shelters as well as pet care supplies, like crates and bowls donated by The Animal Rescue Site, and cash grant support to all shelter partners.

Good Flights is a program of Greater Good Charities that conducts life-saving airlifts and ground transport for at-risk pet populations with a heavy focus on asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs as well as disaster relief, homeless cats, and bully breeds. All shelter pets transported via Good Flights will be done so in compliance with the USDA interstate regulations. Learn more at greatergood.org.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) is well tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD Plus, digestive and neurological side effects have rarely been reported. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.

1American Heartworm Society. No State is Heartworm Free: AHS Announces Findings of 2019 Heartworm Incidence Survey. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/in-the-news/558-ahs-announces-findings-of-2019- heartworm-incidence-survey?highlight=WyJsb3Vpc2lhbmEiXQ. Accessed March 31, 2020.

HEARTGARD is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2021 Greater Good Charities. All Rights Reserved. US-PET- 0333-2021-v2

# # #

About Greater Good CharitiesGreater Good Charities is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization, with a 100/100 rating on Charity Navigator, that works to amplify the good in the world to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Since 2007, Greater Good Charities has given over $300 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 5,000 charitable partners worldwide and funded projects in 121 countries. To date, Greater Good Charities has provided over $22 million in support for COVID-19 disaster-relief, including cash grants, in-kind supplies, and programmatic support. To learn more about how Greater Good Charities is amplifying the good across the globe, please visit greatergood.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthThe lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. Across the globe, our9,700employees are dedicated to delivering value through innovation, thus enhancing the well-being of both. Respect for animals, humans and the environment guides us every day. We develop solutions and provide services to protect animals from disease and pain. We support our customers in taking care of the health of their animals and protect our communities against life- and society-threatening diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of $4.7 billion (4.1 billion euros) in 2020 andpresence in more than 150 countries. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has a significant presence in the United States,with more than 3,100 employees in places that include Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, http://www.facebook.com/BoehringerAHUS or http://www.twitter.com/Boehringer_AH.About The Animal Rescue Site by GreaterGoodThe Animal Rescue Site is one of a suite of charitable sites launched by GreaterGood beginning with The Hunger Site in 1999. The family of sites empowers people to affect positive change by making ordinary online actions extraordinary. GreaterGood is a powerful fund-raising vehicle for worthy causes in the U.S. and around the world and has proudly funded more than $65 million in charitable donations to causes that help people, pets, and the planet.

Excerpt from:

Greater Good Charities with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, and The Animal Rescue Site to Launch Good Flights Program, Will Transport 1,000...

Grant of $10,000 will help save more pet lives in Schaumburg, IL area

Submitted by Dawn Takagi

Almost Home Foundation announced today a $10,000 grant investment from the newly named, Petco Love, to support their lifesaving work for animals in the Schaumburg, IL area.

Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger and healthier. Since their founding in 1999, as the Petco Foundation, they've empowered organizations with nearly $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they've helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.

"Today Petco Love announces an investment in Almost Home Foundation and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized," said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. "Our local investments are only one component. This month, we will also launch the first of our national tools to empower all animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us."

"This grant is tremendous for us. Thanks to Petco Love, we will be able to save more pets in need and have an even bigger impact by reducing both shelter intake and euthanasia," said Rosemary McNiff, president of Almost Home Foundation. "Our primary focus is to save those animals needing us most. We have helped some remote southern shelters decrease their euthanasia rate by 33 percent."

Almost Home Foundation is an all volunteer, registered, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, serving the Schaumburg, IL area, dedicated to rescuing adoptable cats and dogs. In 2020, it saved 1,106 cats and dogs; and notably, in 2018 rescued over 300 heartworm positive dogs. Almost Home Foundation acquired the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and Top-Rated Great Non-Profits Award in 2020 and 2021.

For more information about Almost Home Foundation, visit http://www.AlmostHomeFoundation.org, and to learn more about Petco Love, visit https://petcolove.org.

About Almost Home Foundation

Almost Home Foundation dog and cat rescue was founded in 2005. We are a non-profit, all volunteer, foster-based rescue funded solely by private donations. We have no paid employees. We rely on volunteers to dedicate their time, homes and hearts for our rescued animals until they find their loving forever homes. Thanks to our network of foster homes, and financial support from fundraising, weve been able to reach out to save animals not only throughout Illinois, but in many other states including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. We have also driven many miles to save animals from other states including Mississippi and a South Dakota Indian reservation. Almost Home Foundation does not discriminate based on breed, age, or health of an animal. Visit AlmostHomeFoundation.org to learn more about fostering, adopting, or volunteering with us.

About Petco Love (Formerly Petco Foundation)

Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we've empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit petcolove.org to be part of the lifesaving work we're leading every day.

Read the rest here:

Newly Named Petco Love Invests in Lifesaving Work of Almost Home Foundation - Chicago Daily Herald