The Captive Bolt Gun
The Captive Bolt Gun
[We have highlighted areas of concern]
There are two kinds of Captive Bolt Gun;
1) Penetrative
2) Non Penetrative
Below is an extract from the American Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA] Guidelines of Euthanasia 2007
Penetrative Captive Bolt
Disadvantages
(1) Euthanasia by captive bolt can be aesthetically displeasing.
(2) Death may not occur if equipment is not maintained and used properly.
(3) The air injection captive bolt must never be used on ruminants that
will be used for food because of concerns about contamination of meat with
specified risk materials (neurologic tissue).
(4) Because the penetrating captive bolt is destructive, brain tissue may not be able to be examined for evidence of rabies infection or chronic wasting disease.
Non penetrative Captive Bolt
Disadvantages
(1) Non penetrating captive bolt guns only stun animals and therefore are
generally not effective as a sole means of euthanasia.
The exception is non penetrating pneumatic captive bolt guns that have been purpose-built for
euthanasia of suckling pigs, c neonatal ruminants,130 and turkeys.338
(2) Depending on degree of destruction, use of a
nonpenetrating captive bolt may preclude postmortem diagnostics for diseases of
the brain, incuding rabies and chronic wasting disease.
[Ref: P.35 M3.2 Extract from American Veterinary Medical
Association]
While reading the below document please take into account that it is legal for “Any person
untrained or unlicensed” to use a Captive bolt gun to kill a dog behind closed doors without any monitoring.
Below is an extract from Defra UK, Guidance note on the licensing and training of Slaughtermen
Bleeding and pithing
57) When animals have been stunned, they must be bled or
pithed without delay. It must be carried out in such a way as to bring
about rapid, profuse and complete bleeding. In any event, the bleeding must be
completed before the animal regains consciousness.
The slaughterman will demonstrate that;
1. he is aware that any animal which has been stunned before bleeding or pithing is bled or pithed
without delay
2. he is aware of the correct procedure for pithing to be carried out, if necessary
3. he is aware of appropriate procedures to ensure rapid, profuse and complete bleeding
4. he knows where the carotid arteries and the blood vessels from which they arise are situated
5. he has the knowledge of the appropriate methods to sever the carotid artery and the blood vessels from which it arises competently, and the skill to do it efficiently
6. he is aware of appropriate procedures when carrying out the whole slaughter procedure single-handedly and adheres to them
7. he is aware of time constraints following bleeding, before any further procedures can be undertaken
45. The slaughterman will demonstrate that:
i. he has the knowledge required to understand the importance of the correct positioning of the captive bolt
i. he knows what the cerebral cortex is, where it is, and why the bolt must enter it
iii. he knows why cattle must
not be stunned at the back of the head
iv. he knows the correct procedure for stunning horned sheep and goats
v. he knows which animals may be shot in the back of the head and is aware of the correct positioning of the gun and the need for bleeding without delay
vi. he has sufficient knowledge to understand which type and strength of cartridge
should be used in the stunning equipment for different species or sizes of animal
vii. he has sufficient knowledge of the captive bolt and appropriate
maintenance procedures to ensure it is fit to be used
Full article; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69381/pb13544-slaughtermen-training.pdf
Click on the below link and watch the 'RSPCA bolt gun video' to learn more about pithing.
Warning graphic content: http://youtu.be/0BWrcZKOzs4
PLEASE SEE OUR 'BAN THE BOLT' PAGE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP US OUTLAW THE USE OF THE CAPTIVE BOLT GUN ON DOGS.
[We have highlighted areas of concern]
There are two kinds of Captive Bolt Gun;
1) Penetrative
2) Non Penetrative
Below is an extract from the American Veterinary Medical Association [AVMA] Guidelines of Euthanasia 2007
Penetrative Captive Bolt
Disadvantages
(1) Euthanasia by captive bolt can be aesthetically displeasing.
(2) Death may not occur if equipment is not maintained and used properly.
(3) The air injection captive bolt must never be used on ruminants that
will be used for food because of concerns about contamination of meat with
specified risk materials (neurologic tissue).
(4) Because the penetrating captive bolt is destructive, brain tissue may not be able to be examined for evidence of rabies infection or chronic wasting disease.
Non penetrative Captive Bolt
Disadvantages
(1) Non penetrating captive bolt guns only stun animals and therefore are
generally not effective as a sole means of euthanasia.
The exception is non penetrating pneumatic captive bolt guns that have been purpose-built for
euthanasia of suckling pigs, c neonatal ruminants,130 and turkeys.338
(2) Depending on degree of destruction, use of a
nonpenetrating captive bolt may preclude postmortem diagnostics for diseases of
the brain, incuding rabies and chronic wasting disease.
[Ref: P.35 M3.2 Extract from American Veterinary Medical
Association]
While reading the below document please take into account that it is legal for “Any person
untrained or unlicensed” to use a Captive bolt gun to kill a dog behind closed doors without any monitoring.
Below is an extract from Defra UK, Guidance note on the licensing and training of Slaughtermen
Bleeding and pithing
57) When animals have been stunned, they must be bled or
pithed without delay. It must be carried out in such a way as to bring
about rapid, profuse and complete bleeding. In any event, the bleeding must be
completed before the animal regains consciousness.
The slaughterman will demonstrate that;
1. he is aware that any animal which has been stunned before bleeding or pithing is bled or pithed
without delay
2. he is aware of the correct procedure for pithing to be carried out, if necessary
3. he is aware of appropriate procedures to ensure rapid, profuse and complete bleeding
4. he knows where the carotid arteries and the blood vessels from which they arise are situated
5. he has the knowledge of the appropriate methods to sever the carotid artery and the blood vessels from which it arises competently, and the skill to do it efficiently
6. he is aware of appropriate procedures when carrying out the whole slaughter procedure single-handedly and adheres to them
7. he is aware of time constraints following bleeding, before any further procedures can be undertaken
45. The slaughterman will demonstrate that:
i. he has the knowledge required to understand the importance of the correct positioning of the captive bolt
i. he knows what the cerebral cortex is, where it is, and why the bolt must enter it
iii. he knows why cattle must
not be stunned at the back of the head
iv. he knows the correct procedure for stunning horned sheep and goats
v. he knows which animals may be shot in the back of the head and is aware of the correct positioning of the gun and the need for bleeding without delay
vi. he has sufficient knowledge to understand which type and strength of cartridge
should be used in the stunning equipment for different species or sizes of animal
vii. he has sufficient knowledge of the captive bolt and appropriate
maintenance procedures to ensure it is fit to be used
Full article; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69381/pb13544-slaughtermen-training.pdf
Click on the below link and watch the 'RSPCA bolt gun video' to learn more about pithing.
Warning graphic content: http://youtu.be/0BWrcZKOzs4
PLEASE SEE OUR 'BAN THE BOLT' PAGE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP US OUTLAW THE USE OF THE CAPTIVE BOLT GUN ON DOGS.
