Dear Dr. Fox • I read about a dog who survived the gas chamber in a Florence, Ala., animal shelter and was taken by Eleventh Hour Rescue group.

The article said this dog, Daniel, was a rare survivor of the carbon monoxide in the sealed chamber — he may have found an air pocket or was stuffed up from a cold.

Why is such cruelty toward lost and abandoned pets still allowed, Dr. Fox, and what can be done about it? — J.R., Fargo, N.D.

Dear J.R. • I, too, was very disturbed by this article distributed by The Associated Press.

Years ago, I worked with other animal protection groups and the American Veterinary Medical Association to establish basic humane standards for euthanizing unadopted shelter animals.

We succeeded in outlawing one injectable drug that acted like curare and paralyzed animals so they suffocated to death.

There was resistance to this ban, and the resistance continues from some quarters when it comes to the use of the gas chamber for pet euthanasia.

Imagine several animals put together in a confined space, their last minutes before losing consciousness and dying filled with absolute terror, injuring one another in their panic and vain attempts to escape. I have witnessed these chambers in operation, and while car engine exhaust full of noxious fumes is no longer used — computer- controlled gas pump systems are used instead — the fact remains that more humane euthanasia methods are available, and gas chambers should be outlawed. The most humane method of euthanasia is an overdose of barbiturate anesthetic.

Dogs and cats should never be killed en masse, even though it may save time and reduce costs.

I take my hat off to people working in animal shelters, where staff performing euthanasia is under considerable emotional stress.

Thanks, too, to those who join me in condemning the throwaway attitude toward pets and their commoditization by pet industry commercial breeders.

Pets And Tobacco Smoke • University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital researcher Clare Knottenbelt is using nicotine levels on animals' fur to determine the levels of nicotine they are exposed to when their owners smoke.

Secondhand smoke has been linked to lymphoma and oral cancer in cats, while it puts dogs at risk for lung, sinus and nasal cancer.

The best way to avoid damage to your pets' health is to not smoke around them. Better still, give up this addictive craving — it's not easy, but it's worth the effort.

www.twobitdog.com/DrFox Write to: Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.