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25LSO-0367
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0367
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0216
Prohibition on gas chamber euthanasia of animals.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Singh, Larsen, L, Lucas, Provenza, Storer and Wasserburger and Senator(s) Gierau
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to animals; amending provisions governing euthanasia of pets as specified; providing definitions; creating a misdemeanor for the destruction of animals as specified; providing a penalty; making a conforming amendment; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 6
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3
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1011 is created to read:
6
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3
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1011.
Authorized euthanasia practices.
(a)
No animal control facility shall euthanize a pet by using any method other than euthanasia by injection utilizing a commercially available euthanasia solution sold for the purpose of euthanizing pets as provided by this section. For purposes of this section, the euthanasia solution shall be administered by:
(i)
Intravenous injection by hypodermic needle;
(ii)
Intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle; or
(iii)
Intracardiac injection by hypodermic needle, only if an animal is first unconscious.
(b)
If an animal control facility euthanizes pets, the animal control facility shall:
(i)
Adopt a policy for euthanasia that complies with the applicable provisions of this section;
(ii)
Adopt a policy requiring persons who perform or assist with euthanasia by injection to attend a training program upon initial certification and at least one (1) time every two (2) years thereafter; and
(iii)
Keep a record of training dates and all attendees.
(c)
The requirements imposed on animal control facilities by subsection (b) of this section are in addition to the requirements imposed on animal euthanasia technicians in W.S. 33
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30
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223 and 33
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30
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224.
Section 2.
W.S. 6
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3
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1001(a)(ii) and by creating new paragraphs (iv) and (v), 6
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3
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1003 by creating a new subsection (d), 6
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3
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1004(a) and (b)(ii) and 6
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3
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1008(a)(i) are amended to read:
6
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3
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1001.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this article:
(ii)
"Household pet" means any privately owned dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, gerbil, ferret, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate or any other species of domesticated animal sold, transferred or retained for the purpose of
being kept as a pet
providing companionship or other nonutility function
in or near a
house
human dwelling unit
. "Household pet" shall not include any livestock;
(iv)
"Animal control facility" means a public or private facility whose primary purpose is to provide temporary care for stray, surrendered or neglected household pets;
(v)
"Pet" means any dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, gerbil, ferret, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate or any other species of domesticated animal sold, transferred or retained for the purpose of providing companionship or other nonutility function in or near a human dwelling unit. "Pet" shall not include any livestock.
6
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3
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1003.
Other misdemeanors involving animal abuse; prohibition on manner of destruction of animals; attending fowl or dog fights; keeping household pets in unsanitary conditions.
(d)
An animal control facility shall not destroy an animal by the use of a high
‑
altitude decompression chamber, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or any nonanesthetic inhalant.
6
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3
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1004.
Penalties, misdemeanor offenses.
(a)
A first offense of cruelty to animals or of a violation of W.S. 6
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3
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1003
or 6
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3
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1011
is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
(b)
A second or subsequent conviction, resulting from charges separately brought and arising out of separate occurrences within a five (5) year period:
(ii)
Under W.S. 6
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3
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1003
or 6
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3
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1011
is a misdemeanor offense punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
6
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3
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1008.
Use of agricultural and livestock management practices, wildlife management and humane destruction not prohibited.
(a)
Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit:
(i)
Except as otherwise provided by W.S. 6
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3
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1011(a), a
person humanely destroying an animal, including livestock;
Section 3
.
This act is effective July 1, 2025
.
(END)
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HB0216