Thanks to Del Seligman, Esq. of Seligman and Seligman,
and Animal Advocates, Inc. of Kingston, NY for fighting for Sadie.
Thanks to Del, Tracey and Pat Gaffney (Sadie’s human
companions), and Wildlife Watch, Sadie’s tragic death has permanently
affected trapping. Because of you, Sadie, developers now understand
that trapping can not be done with impunity and can, indeed, have
a boomerang effect. Who wants their time wasted in court? Settlements
could get larger in time. Land owners’ insurance companies will want
to know if there is trapping on the property. Most trappers can’t
afford the legal costs which will exceed any small amount they might
have
gotten from doing the dirty work of the developer. Most trappers
don’t
carry insurance as the developers do. Both developers and trappers
have to face the people whose companion animal they killed, and
they have to face themselves.
Sadie’s death led to a trapping law in New Paltz Village.
It doesn’t bring her back, but in a small way her death has been
vindicated. We asked that the name of the law cause the recall
of Sadie and the
beavers as well, one of whom was shot. We trust there will come
a time when the death of the beavers or other wild animals themselves
will
also be the issue.
