Press Releases
From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)

We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester Endorses Rob Astorino for Governor

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 22, 2014

CONTACT:
Kiley Blackman
[email protected]
www.adow.org

Westchester Activists say he is NYS's best choice for leadership.

"Animals have no voice and are the most easily abused members of the community. Rob Astorino has shown respect to our fight for them and considered the issues, many of which benefit people as well, with understanding, fairness and intelligent reasoning."

Westchester County, NY (PRWEB) October 22, 2014

Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW) is proud to officially endorse Rob Astorino for governor of NYS. People who care about animals vote - and Rob has demonstrated concern for the silent victims. "From the beginning of his position as CE of Westchester, Astorino's door has always been open to us and all our requests have been welcomed with open arms - even if the answer is 'no,' which it rarely is," says ADOW founder Kiley Blackman. "We are always treated with respect and consideration: Most recently we were the only county in NYS granted a meeting regarding using non-lethal deterrent methods at the airport here. It was a major meeting, garnering great press and a representation that upgrades will be implemented; this shows consideration for human safety as well, at a time where technology exists to stop bird/plane collisions but is rarely used."

Astorino's office also granted ADOW much-needed funding for a trap/neuter/release program directed at the many homeless cats here - a program which benefits animals and people as well. It took other venues years - and ADOW got the funding with little effort beyond requesting a meeting and presenting the facts cogently, along with why it would be a plus for the community.

"We just asked for another meeting about implementing 'No Bull Hook' legislation here, regarding an abusive circus tool; his office immediately consented and is setting it up, and it has been this way the moment we began requesting meetings with them about the Sprain Golf Course geese slaughter - which stopped further killing - long before any announcement of gubernatorial aspirations," Blackman adds.

Times are changing and animal rights now figures in the political equation. As society advances in awareness and compassion, the massive killing of wildlife by the USDA, much as the carriage horse ban in NYC, helped propel Bill DeBlasio to a mayoral win: According to an article in the NY Times, "Animal rights have emerged recently as an unexpected tinderbox in the mayoral race" (website). In fact animal rights was such a popular position that loser Joe Lhota ultimately jumped on the bandwagon, hoping to cull votes on this issue. It is the same for NYS. People who care about animals vote, they vote in large numbers and they're looking for like-minded representatives; political candidates now understand their vote matters.

Blackman asserts complete confidence in her endorsement choice.

"Animals have no voice and are the most easily abused members of the community. Rob Astorino has shown respect to our fight for them and considered the issues, many of which benefit people as well, with understanding, fairness and intelligent reasoning.

Under Astorino's leadership Westchester remains a beautiful, desirable place to live and work. We want a candidate who sticks up for the littlest victims along with others; we believe, as a result of our experience with him, that he will provide the same fair and appropriate consideration to all the issues he faces, and that he will be an asset to the highest office in NYS." 

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