We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.
Letter as published on
The Journal News
10 Mar 2015
On Feb. 25 in Rye, a panel convened by Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum
discussed the quickest, cheapest way to kill local deer. There was also talk
of having geese and coyotes killed.
No attention was paid to humane, non-lethal methods of coexistence.
Euphemisms — "harvest," "take," "cull" — disguised the plan to bring mass
deer slaughter throughout New York state. We supplied facts proving hunting
doesn't work for population control, and stats about problems caused by
burgeoning human overpopulation.
People build homes in the country, forests, wooded areas — then want the wildlife gone. Sadly, much discussion was aimed at appeasing influential homeowners who want deer shot to protect their gardens; but those who don't care about killing innocent beings should consider that numerous studies have shown the benefits on human health of seeing nature and living with animals; indeed many residents state they moved here specifically to live among and see our fabulous wildlife.
We ask if Westchester goes through with this slaughter that it be televised, not conducted secretly. Show animals lured to eat at bait stations, only to stagger away crying in pain and fear as they bleed to death after being shot.
We must do better. Is the message we want to send our children that we should bully and kill our way out of conflict, and it's okay to slaughter the helpless? Shouldn't we teach children intelligent, compassionate behavior and respect for others? Shouldn't our ethics be at least as important as our gardens?
Kiley Blackman
Tuckahoe
The writer is founder of Animal Defenders of Westchester.
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