700.11 training of kennel and veterinary staff in euthanasia of small animals

1. COUNTY OF ORANGE
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
REGULATORY HEALTH SERVICES
ANIMAL CARE SERVICES
Number: 700.11
SUBJECT: TRAINING OF KENNEL AND VETERINARY STAFF IN
EUTHANASIA OF SMALL ANIMALS
Page: 1
Date: 01/15/91
Approved: Jennifer Phillips, Director Revised: 12/12/07
I. PURPOSE
To establish a procedure for conducting regular training and refresher courses on the euthanasia
procedure.
II. POLICY
Upon appointment to Veterinary Services or Shelter Services at Orange County Animal Care
Services (OCACS), all personnel shall receive training as outlined in the reference procedures
to ensure they fully understand every step of the euthanasia process.
To ensure that all personnel involved in this process remain sensitive to all portions of the
euthanasia procedure, the Clinic Veterinarian shall conduct a two hour refresher class every six
(6) months (January and July).
III. SCOPE
Applicable to all personnel involved in euthanasia of small animals.
IV. FORMS
Daily Euthanasia Record
V. REFERENCES
Not Applicable.
VI. DEFINITIONS
Not Applicable
VII. PROCEDURE
Processing an animal for euthanasia may start when one of the following situations exist:
A. Owner/custodian surrenders an animal and it is determined by the Clinic Veterinarian or
Kennel Supervisor to be unsuitable for adoption (i.e., poor physical condition, serious
injury, bad temperament).

2. COUNTY OF ORANGE
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
REGULATORY HEALTH SERVICES
ANIMAL CARE SERVICES
Number: 700.11
SUBJECT: TRAINING OF KENNEL AND VETERINARY STAFF IN
EUTHANASIA OF SMALL ANIMALS
Page: 2
Date: 01/15/91
Approved: Jennifer Phillips, Director Revised: 12/12/07
B. The Clinic Veterinarian has determined that the stray animal is in poor health or has
irreversible traumatic injury.
C. Stray animal has been held the required amount of days and was not adopted.
The Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), along with the Kennel Attendant (KA)
assigned to Station III are the last personnel to examine the animal before euthanasia.
Other personnel precede them in the early part of the process. Thorough training and
review of the entire euthanasia procedure from the start of the process to the point of the
final injection, is appropriate on a regular basis. Initial training shall be conducted by
the Kennel Supervisor for all newly appointed Kennel Attendants.
The Clinic Veterinarian shall train all newly appointed RVTs in the euthanasia process
as a part of regular new employee training.
In addition, refresher classes on euthanasia shall be conducted by the Clinic
Veterinarian twice each year with RVTs and with any Kennel staff who are involved in
the euthanasia process as part of their regular duties.
D. The training shall consist of:
1. A review of the written procedures related to the process.
2. A review of all forms related to the process and the proper filling out of such
forms.
3. A walk-through of the process, from identification of animals to the final
injection.
4. A review of all equipment used in the process.
5. A review of all checks and balances designed to assure that the wrong animal is
not euthanized.