Theft at Animal Shelter May Endanger Women

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2010-04-13 09:00:00 UTC
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In an animal shelter, the drug is used to sedate animals, often prior to euthanasia. On the streets, it's used as a date rape drug.

This past weekend, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported that Ketamine and T61 had been stolen from their offices. In animals, Ketamine is a sedative and muscle relaxant. In humans, it's sold under a variety of names and is often used to target women. As a date rape drug, it can cause temporary paralysis, confusion, respiratory depression or increased blood pressure. T61, used in animal euthanasia, can cause respiratory collapse in humans.

Animal shelters, especially those with onsite veterinary clinics, keep a fair amount of pharmaceuticals on hand. In addition to the sedatives, many of the pain killers used in animals are sought after by humans, too. These drugs are sold illegally on the streets, and many are controlled substances according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

In some cases, the disappearance of shelter drugs has turned out to be an inside job. The DEA has requirements for how to store and log the use of many of these types of drugs, and mismanagement can be a felony. Sometimes it's carelessness or insufficient training, but even when a drug doesn't have a known history of being abused by people, when the records don't match up, it's highly suspect. Last year, the former director of the St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter was arrested over missing vials of sodium pentobarbital (another euthanasia drug) and similar concerns were among the Memphis Animal Shelter's long list of woes.

Following the break-in at the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, local police have issued a warning for people to be wary of the drugs, which may already be on the streets. It's unfortunate whenever a crime is committed against a nonprofit, but this theft doesn't just mean fewer resources to accomplish the organization's mission. Drugs meant to ease the pain of animals are potentially being used to cause harm to women, leaving victims across multiple species.

Photo credit:cnynfreelancer

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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