Standard Operating Procedures for the Use and Maintenance of Captive Bolt Stunners

Objective In an effort to avoid pain and distress of animals and to carry out required research and teaching, it may become necessary to achieve humane euthanasia through methods not involving the use of commercially available euthanasia solutions or other drugs. As listed in the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia, one such method is the use of captive bolt stunners and subsequent exsanguination to achieve rapid loss of consciousness followed by death. The objective of this standard operating procedure is to provide guidelines for the proper use and maintenance of captive bolt stunners.

Basic Diagram of the CHASH Magnum .25 Captive Bolt Stunner

Maintenance and Storage Manufacturer recommended cleaning and maintenance from the product brochure will be

followed and can be found below. All maintenance activities will be recorded and reviewed by the IACUC at the semi-annual inspection:

In addition to the manufacturer recommendations, the following guidelines should be followed:

All captive bolt stunners and charges will be kept in a secure area in a locked cabinet with appropriate personnel in charge of maintaining that security.

A dessicant container will be kept in the stunner/charges storage cabinet to minimize humidity.

Charges will be stored in an airtight container in a cool, temperature controlled area.

Only the charges estimated to be used during that slaughter (euthanasia) session should be removed from the box and kept in another airtight container until use. Plastic bags are unacceptable as a primary storage vessel. A dessicant will be kept in containers used for transport of charges to euthanasia site.

All captive bolt stunners will be maintained in immaculate working order and cleaned according to manufacturer recommendations. Any broken or missing pieces must be replaced before the stunner is used or a new stunner should be purchased for use. Any stunner disposed of should be dismantled and rendered incapable of use or useable parts removed for use as replacements. It is recommended to have either another captive bolt for second stuns or another method of euthanasia on site if needed.

Captive bolt stunners and storage areas will be inspected at each IACUC semi-annual inspection.

Captive Bolt Stunner Use Procedures Manufacturer guidelines for the operation of the CASH Magnum .25 stunner can be found below:

Considerations for Euthanasia Using Captive Bolt Stunners Only trained personnel are allowed to perform euthanasia using a captive bolt stunner.

Euthanasias will not be performed alone. Working in pairs or groups will minimize the risk to personal safety.

Review all safety procedures and product information before attempting euthanasia with a captive bolt stunner. The entire product brochure for the CASH .25 Magnum Captive bolt stunner can be found at the conclusion of this SOP.

Only well maintained equipment will be used for euthanasia.

Test firing of the stunner should be performed before each euthanasia session. Test firing can be accomplished by using normal loading and firing procedures while aiming into a 12”x 12”x6” block of folded cardboard. The test block should have a minimum thickness of 6” to absorb the full force of the bolt. Only trained personnel are allowed to perform test firing procedures. Test fires are to be documented.

Records of captive bolt stunner use should be maintained and notations made of equipment operation.

Proper Placement of the Captive Bolt Proper positioning of the bolt is crucial in assuring rapid euthanasia. Below is information from Procedures for Humane Euthanasia: Humane Euthanasia of Sick, injured and/or Debilitated Livestock from Iowa State University describing proper placement and anatomical landmarks.

Confirmation of Death Before any carcass can be disposed of or processed, death must be confirmed. Indications of proper stunning include: immediate collapse after firing of the stunner, no attempt of the animal to right itself, the body becomes rigid after the shot followed by varying degrees of involuntary twitching, normal respiration stops, and the eyelids remain open with no corneal reflex when the eye is touched. Death can be confirmed by: the lack of heartbeat, the lack or respiration, the lack of corneal reflex, and the onset of rigor mortis. If the animal is not being necropsied or processed for slaughter, a bilateral pneumothorax must be induced to assure death before carcass disposal.