I known the horror of heart stick euthanasia. Shelters in my  Oklahoma, and indeed around the world, are using this inhumane method on dogs, delivering their final breaths with unspeakable cruelty. Dogs are repeatedly stabbed in the chest with long needles until their hearts are defiantly pierced. The pain is not just physical; it extends into the realm of crude animal abuse.

Considered an unacceptable method of euthanasia by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), heart stick, or intracardiac injections are deemed "inhumane" unless performed on anesthetized or unconscious animals. (Source: AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia). Yet, this directive does not always reach the hands that wield these deadly needles.

Thousands of animals are subjected to this horror each year when other, more peaceful methods exist. Out of 6.5 million companion animals entering U.S shelters annually, approximately 1.5 million are euthanized (Source: ASPCA Pet Statistics).

This wrenches at the heart of our humanity. It is an especially egregious affront considering the plentiful and more compassionate alternatives available. Let's put an end to this brutal practice. By doing so, we maintain the dignity of these creatures and preserve the essence of our own empathetic nature.

It is time to require the use of humane euthanasia methods in all animal shelters. We need change, we need compassion, and above all, we need your help to alter this painful reality. Stand with us, demand better for these innocent lives, sign this petition today.