Beckham the Pup is Rescued
It all started with a pup named Beckham, who was rescued within minutes of being sent to the gas chamber to die. Beckham became the poster pup and a call to ban gas chambers was heard throughout Alabama. AVRAL, which stands for Alabama Votes for Responsible Animal Legislation, is a political action committee, dedicated to making the state a more humane place for animals. The organization fought for no more gas chambers, including holding a rally in Montgomery, the state's Capitol.
Gas Chambers are Banned
After the rally, phone calls and letters began to pour into representatives showing that Alabama truly does care about the welfare of their animals. Finally, on June 14, 2011, what is known as Beckham's Law is passed. This means that as of December 31, 2011, Alabama will no longer allow gas chambers to be used to put animals to sleep. By January 31, 2012, all gas chambers must be completely dismantled.
This means that until the end of this year animals in Alabama are still dying by gas chamber, which costs more than injection and causes much more discomfort to the animal.
Rescue Workers Take Action
Rescue workers are trying feverishly to rescue as many animals as they can. This also means outraged calls from citizens, which can actually have a negative effect. Many of the shelters are working as hard as they can to comply with the law ahead of schedule, but calls that include ranting and raving can actually push a shelter to close its door to rescuers if the emotions get out of hand.
AVRAL has asked that t he public no longer make angry calls to the shelter as that reflects poorly on organizations as a whole.
If this becomes the case, animals will needlessly suffer at the hands of more than just gas chambers.
It can be hard for rescue workers to see conditions like this. Coupled with the fact that it was only recently that many people learned of the gas chamber use, this situation has emotions running high and this can lead to situations that aren't ideal.
It is a sad situation to be sure, but change cannot happen overnight.
Beckham's Law is a positive step in the right direction. It was handled with professionalism, concern and diligence. Governor Bentley listened to the pleas, as did the representatives who were contacted. Beckham's Law passed unopposed, 99-0.
Making a Difference
Shelters are always in need of a helping hand, but spreading the word can be just as helpful. Letting others know the truth about shelters and the strides that are being made concerning Animal rights in Alabama can be a huge help.
For more information about animal rights issues in Alabama, visit the AVRAL website and sign up to receive the e-mails.
Jennifer Tanner-Jordan - Jennifer attended Jacksonville State University, lives at home with 3 cats and a husband. She is an advocate of spay-neuter.
