Rep. Gary Ackerman on the Antifreeze Safety Bill

Every year, more than 90,000 pets and animals accidentally ingest antifreeze from driveways, puddles and curbside road spills. Antifreeze, a commonly available coolant for water-cooled engines, contains Ethylene Glycol, a deadly toxin. A mere lick of antifreeze for animals results in immediate kidney failure. By the time most animals present signs of Ethylene Glycol toxicity, it is often too late to save them. At least 10,000 animals each year will tragically die immediately after antifreeze ingestion. Each of those 10,000 deaths is unnecessary and preventable.

For this reason, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and I have introduced H.R. 1563, The Antifreeze Safety Act, a simple and straightforward approach to solving a lethal problem. This bill would require antifreeze to contain Denatonium Benzoate -- the world's most bitter substance - to render antifreeze unpalatable to pets and animals. The bill is similar to a successful 10-year-old Oregon law and a recent California law requiring the addition of Denatonium Benzoate to antifreeze sold in quantities of 55 gallons or less. In Oregon, the law has successfully discouraged thousands of pets and animals from ingesting large amounts of the soft drink-colored substance.

Antifreeze poses a danger to both domestic and wild animals. Dogs being walked , cats being let out of the house and stray animals such as birds, squirrels and raccoons, are too often attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze. In California, the native condor, with extensive habitat and breeding grounds, has also fallen victim to antifreeze ingestion.

The Veterinarians for Animal Rights and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have noted that the addition of nontoxic aversive agents to toxic household products makes these products so unpalatable that most domestic and wild animals will reject the products when tasting them.

I found this recommendation, in addition to the success of the Oregon state law, compelling and worthy of legislative consideration. Congress must act to prevent further deaths of animals as a result of antifreeze ingestion. I will continue to champion the Antifreeze Safety Act and hope that you will call your Representative and encourage them to also support this legislation. With your help, we can work together to save lives and ensure an effective, inexpensive solution to a very grave problem.

Published in the Fall 2003 Animal Guardian.

Rep. Gary Ackerman (D) is serving his 11th term in Congress, representing Queens and Long Island. He has also sponsored the Downed Animal legislation that would ban dragging sick or injured animals into stockyards to be sold for human consumption.