Freezing is in no way a humane method of killing and is NOT considered a method of euthanasia. As stated earlier, the best way for field herpers or people not seeking veterinary care to end suffering is through pithing followed by decapitation, or cervical dislocation followed by decapitation. You must end the brain function BEFORE decapitating or it is not considered euthanasia. This is the most recent consensus statement from the AVMA on euthanasia: www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

The exerpt on cooling:
"Cooling—It has been suggested that, when using physical methods of euthanasia in ectothermic species, cooling to 4 C will decrease metabolism and facilitate handling, but there is no evidence that whole body cooling reduces pain or is clinically efficacious.206 Local cooling in frogs does reduce nociception, and this may be partly opioid mediated. 207 Immobilization of reptiles by cooling is considered inappropriate and inhumane even if combined with other physical or chemical methods of euthanasia. Snakes and turtles, immobilized by cooling, have been killed by subsequent freezing. This method is not recommended.13 Formation of ice crystals on the skin and in tissues of an animal may cause pain or distress. Quick freezing of deeply anesthetized
animals is acceptable.208"


Even an injection of euthanasia solution is sometimes not considered humane. In small snakes, finding a vein is impossible and injecting sodium pentobarbital into the heart w/o anesthesia first is considered inhumane. In these situations many are anesthetized first and then given and intracardiac injection or they are given an overdose of ketamine intracoelomically instead.

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