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Euthanasia Policy - Standards of Operation Print E-mail
Article Index
Euthanasia Policy
Standards of Operation
Definition of Terms
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Page 2 of 3

Standards of Operation

Each animal admitted into the animal center of the Baltimore Humane Society will be evaluated initially at intake. Pets placed in the organization’s adoption program will continuously be evaluated for medical and behavioral considerations. Evaluations are intended to identify:

  1. Animals who are suffering mentally, emotionally or physically.
  2. Animals with a poor prognosis, protracted painful recovery, incurable illness, and/or are non-responsive to treatment or who suffer from an affliction in which treatment is not reasonably available.
  3. Animals who are deemed to pose an unacceptable danger to other animals, themselves or the public.
  4. Animals who have a condition that individually may not necessitate euthanasia, but that contribute to escalate other conditions that, in total, warrant euthanasia.

In instances where an animal initially accepted for adoption fails to meet the criteria for adoptability, the Baltimore Humane Society will do everything possible within its means to attempt to find reasonable alternative options consistent with its mission and its standards. Efforts include but are not limited to:

  1. Cooperation with placement partners and like organizations.
  2. Use of waivers of liability.
  3. Use of ‘foster to adopt’ options and/or special needs specific training.
  4. Open reclamation policy.
  5. Consulting with professional animal trainers & behaviorists to attempt to reverse unsafe behaviors.
  6. Consulting with outside Veterinarians if a medical condition is undetermined.

If the animal poses an immediate or serious danger to animals and/or people or in the event of a medical emergency, alternative options will not be considered.