NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Videotape Exposes Vet's Euthanasia Methods

Videotape Exposes Vet's Euthanasia Methods

GALLATIN, Tenn. - NewsChannel 5 has obtained undercover video that shows animals being put to sleep through methods that violate state and national guidelines.

The video taken inside Sumner County Animal Control is disturbing to animal advocates.

They are also concerned about the fact that a veterinarian is at the center of this controversy.

Sumner County executives reviewed the video, which show jail trusties holding up dogs and cats while veterinarian Bill Baber sticks lethal injections into their hearts.

"He hits them with the needle. They flip. They flop," said a source who didn't want his identity disclosed to the public. "They're just basically going nuts. They're yelping."

The video doesn't show Baber giving the animals a sedative. At some points, he appears to step on some of the animals' heads to keep them still before he injects them.

"Yeah, I do believe it's abuse," the source said.

It also violates local and state law. Tennessee's Non-livestock Animal Humane Death Act states that "intracardial injection by hypodermic needle [should] only if performed on heavily sedated, anesthetized, or comatose animals."

Gallatin Mayor Jo Ann Graves said the allegations center around the Sumner County Animal Shelter, which isn't affiliated with the city of Gallatin

"The city of Gallatin does not support any mistreatment of animals," Graves said.

So what is the advantage to injecting animals in the heart?  It takes much less time.

The county pays Baber $9 per animal killed. He made about $25,000 in 2006 on euthanasia alone from almost 3,000 dogs and cats.

Sumner County resident and animal lover Peg Olea was one of the first to raise questions about Baber's actions.

"Euthanasia is a Greek word, which means beautiful death and that's what it's supposed to be," she said. "Those dogs died a horrible, painful death."

Baber, who has a private veterinary clinic in Gallatin, said he wasn't aware of the county's proper euthanasia procedures.

Sumner County Executive Hank Thompson said he will ask Baber to euthanize animals intravenously instead of through injections into their hearts.

"We've changed the method for now and for the future, we've corrected the problem, I feel like," he said.

But already Baber has euthanized thousands of animals in the past three years, using a method many believe is cruel.

"There were times after we took the animals to the incinerator, I came back, washed my hands and asked God to forgive me. That's all I could do," said a source.

Thompson said Baber isn't to blame for this controversy. He said the problem starts with irresponsible pet owners who don't spay and neuter their animals and often dump unwanted dogs and cats in rural areas.

Baber will continue to put animals to sleep for the county. Taxpayers pay him to do so. Although trained volunteers have offered to provide the service for free, Thompson said he will continue employing Baber.

But Thompson said Baber will use the humane methods of euthanasia starting immediately.

Olea said she and her colleagues plan to hold a protest against Baber.

She also hopes to present evidence against him to the state veterinary board.