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