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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.

CONGRESSMAN ENGEL BLASTS USDA: 'THE EXCESSIVE KILLING OF ANIMALS NEEDS TO STOP'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2014

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

CONGRESSMAN ENGEL BLASTS USDA: 'THE EXCESSIVE KILLING OF ANIMALS NEEDS TO STOP'
 
NEW YORK, NY    February 10, 2014    After a series of meetings and communications, Congressman Eliot Engel (D-16th District) has agreed to speak out against the rogue agency USDA/Wildlife Services, which has come under fire by the public for its unchecked animal slaughters - most recently for its intent to annihilate the entire Mute Swan population in New York State. 
 
Engel acknowledges being contacted by Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW), an organization which has 'expressed concerns regarding the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's (USDA) culling of animals in New York.'  In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the Regional Director of the USDA/APHIS, Engel states, 'The unnecessary killing of animals must be avoided.  We have an obligation to protect animals from indignity, pain and suffering...the welfare of innocent creatures should be a high priority, and the excessive killing of animals needs to stop.  Failing to do so would be both cruel and avoidable.'  
 
Engel deems killing to be a last resort, preferring non-lethal methods, but requests that if a cull is 'absolutely essential, the residents of that area should be notified in the most expedient manner possible.'
 
Kiley Blackman, founder of ADOW who arranged the meeting and followup with Rep. Engel said, 'We are very happy that Congressman Engel is willing to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves in what is a life-or-death matter for them.  His thoughtful letter acknowledges animal rights and sentience, and places the USDA in the position of having to answer for the disgraceful, wanton killing of wildlife this agency is guilty of.  This comes at a most opportune time, when the unparalleled mass extinction of Mute Swans was just proposed by the USDA - to an outcry which has reverberated around the world.  These out-of-control killings - euphemistically dubbed 'culls' or 'removals' by the USDA - are taxpayer-funded to the tune of 126 MILLION dollars per year.

Letters and petitions from concerned citizens have flooded the U.S. demanding this agency be stopped - and thanks to legislators like Mr. Engel, who has domain over the federal agency USDA/APHIS in his congressional capacity, profound and decent change for the animals will finally be achieved.  The time for animal rights is now; this agency - and all others like it - needs to know we will not stay quiet and watch while they brazenly kill, maim and slaughter everything with fur, feathers and fins.  We will not back down: Animals have a right to live on this earth in peace.  Thank you Eliot Engel for standing with us and being part of the solution.'

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