Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently there has been a ton of media regarding the feeding of live animals and whether they must be euthanized humanely PRIOR to feeding. This is a serious mis-reading of the bill that recently became law.

Here is the law in question:

California Health & Safety Code 122354

(5)(B)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an animal intended as food for another animal may be destroyed using a method or methods of euthanasia that are humane, involve painless loss of consciousness and immediate death as specified in Appendix 2 of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia, and as authorized for the species in the documented program prescribed in paragraph (7).

The misunderstanding being presented in the media is the word MAY. That is it. Animals intended as food for another animal MAY be destroyed. The media is presenting this as MUST be destroyed. They are incorrect.

Here is a link to the law:

codes.lp.findlaw.com/cacode/HSC/1/d105/6/9/s122354
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

Is smacking them against the table humane? It's very quick.

Anything that causes instantaneous death is humane, however, there are better ways to humanely dispatch an animal besides "whacking". Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen Gas, and cervical dislocation are all alternatives to smacking on a table.

Isn't smacking on a table the same thing as cervical dislocation, if done properly? FYI, if you're too "thorough" in CD, you end up with a decapitated mouse.

Katrina

I'm going to start manufacturing and marketing some Hangman's contraptions for rodents. Multiple sizes for every type rodent.
Multiple units per stage. Hang 'em high 6 at a time. Just keeping it humane.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

>>Isn't smacking on a table the same thing as cervical dislocation, if done properly? FYI, if you're too "thorough" in CD, you end up with a decapitated mouse.
>>
>>Katrina

Cervical dislocation IS Internal Decapitation. The only thing holding the head on is skin.

The point of the post was to let everyone know we may still feed live, but if we want to feed pre-killed a shop has to use only one of two methods to accomplish the euthanasia. Of course if you buy already killed rodents, then this does not apply.

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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

>>Is smacking them against the table humane? It's very quick.

Humane or quick? in California this method is not legal in a pet shop.

This method is abhorrent to me. Unless you have very good aim you get stunned (not killed) animals or you get bloody noses/ears that make a mess. Using this method, I once watched a guy tear the tail off the animal while giving it a bloody nose and terrific anger. He had a pissed off rat bleeding all over his room. That animal survived while leaving a bloody mess. It was hard to capture because of the lack of tail. Finally a snap trap got it (survical dislocation)

In California pet shops the only legal methods as written into state law are cervical dislocation or CO2 chambers. Freezing & CO poisoning are specifically outlawed in other code.
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

You both missed the smilely. I feed f/t, anyway.

Anyone allow the snake to kill it's own prey? That takes the longest for the prey to die.

>>Anyone allow the snake to kill it's own prey? That takes the longest for the prey to die.

All the time. Mice mostly as rats fight back. However, this death is far from inhumane. If you watch closely the mouse is unconscious very quickly. Just 10-15 seconds. Further, the response in the prey to the overwhelming force of the predator quickly puts the mouses brain into a mode that does not allow for pain nor panic.

This relationship between prey and predator fascinates, likely the origin of my herp career!

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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

"Further, the response in the prey to the overwhelming force of the predator quickly puts the mouses brain into a mode that does not allow for pain nor panic."

Um...we must have seen different mice being constricted. Ever see a snake grab one by the tail?

I am speaking in generalities, not in anecdotes. Anecdotes do not disprove a theory.
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

o.....k.....

It was an attempt to lighten up the convo.