New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 8 - HEALTH
Chapter 23A - ANIMAL FACILITY OPERATION; ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATOR CERTIFICATION; PILOT SPAYING AND NEUTERING CLINIC FEES; AND RABIES INOCULATION
Subchapter 1 - SANITARY OPERATION OF KENNELS, PET SHOPS, SHELTERS AND POUNDS
Section 8:23A-1.11 - Euthanasia
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) No animal being euthanized shall be allowed to make physical contact with another animal unless pretranquilized to the extent that they are not capable of aggressive actions dangerous to humans or animals.
(b) Where standard methods of restraint are impractical or impossible (such as zoo animals, animals in severe pain from trauma, or animals that are intractable for other reasons) or where manual capture and restraint may cause pain and injury through struggling and anxiety, the use of immobilizing drugs are acceptable, except neuromuscular blocking agents as determined by 4:22-1 et seq.
(c) The acceptable methods of euthanasia include the following:
(d) Methods not acceptable for euthanasia include the following:
(e) All persons administering animal euthanasia shall be a New Jersey licensed veterinarian or be certified by a licensed veterinarian in the acceptable euthanasia technique or techniques used at the facility, as delineated in (c) above, in compliance with N.J.A.C. 8:65. Such documentation shall state the euthanasia substances and techniques certified for use therewith, shall be signed by the certifying veterinarian, and shall be kept on file at the facility for inspection by State or local Health authorities.
(f) Facilities where euthanasia is performed shall:
(g) After the administration of euthanasia agents to an animal, the person administering euthanasia shall assess each animal for the absence of a heartbeat by auscultation of the heart utilizing a stethoscope, establishment of the absence of a pulse and respiration, the absence of movement of the eyelid when the cornea is touched (corneal reflex) and checking for presence of maximum dilation of the pupils of the eyes.