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Enews Lynx Issue 24: Shut Down Petland, Animal Control & Wildlife, Parkway Development Resistance
Enews Lynx Issue 24: Shut Down Petland, Animal Control & Wildlife, Parkway Development Resistance
| Lynx Issue 24: Shut Down Petland, Animal Control & Wildlife, Parkway Development Resistance |
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| Thursday, 21 August 2008 00:00 |
In this week's edition:
Animal Control and Wildlife: Take Action! Last week, Channel 11 ran a report on a dispute over noise and smell emanating from the City Animal Control facility in the Strip, which was followed by a report in the Post Gazette the following day. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08229/904833-52.stm Not surprisingly, we received many emails on this subject over the past few days, some from people who were not even aware that the City killed wildlife in this way. We urge all of you who are City of Pittsburgh residents and are concerned about the issue of killing wildlife to contact their Council representative and state that you are opposed to the killing of healthy wildlife by City agents as a "solution" to human/wildlife conflict, and to the use of your City tax dollars to that end. Please be polite in your communications with City officials. Remember that the current "trap-and-kill" system persists because of a questionable PA Game Commission regulation that states that any trapped/caged animal handed over to an animal control agent must be killed. Animal protection activists have been working with the City on this issue, promoting alternative, humane approaches, and some definite signs of progress have been seen. Some points to consider:
http://www.urbanwildliferescue.org Closer to home, the Ohio Wildlife Center takes a similar approach: http://www.ohiowildlifecenter.org/hws.cfm An education/assistance-based role would be far more rewarding for the City's animal control officers who currently face the unpleasant task of killing healthy, terrified wildlife on a day to day basis. We really can put a stop to this antiquated system. However, remember there will always be those who believe it is their "right" to have wildlife picked up for them by the City, and we know that many exercise that "right" at every opportunity. That's why it's all the more important to make your voice of reason heard. So call or email your council reps today and tell them you support a humane, non-lethal approach to wildlife management in Pittsburgh. You can find out who your rep is here: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/council/html/map_of_districts.html Parkway "City Vista" Development Project Update Thanks to all of you who wrote letters to the City Zoning board in relation to this issue (see our alert of 7/24/08). As a result of the many emails and letters received, the Zoning Board postponed the re-zoning hearing until Tuesday, September 9th, instructing the developers to meet with local residents in the meantime to discuss concerns. VFA reps attended the developer/resident meeting on Thursday August 14th. Many concerns were raised: excess traffic, road safety, undermining, water/sewage... and environmental/wildlife issues (the site features a pond that serves as the water source for local wildlife). The wildlife/sustainability issue was treated with ill-concealed scorn at first, but after several persistent mentions it finally made it onto the "issue list" on the developer's white board. This attitude is not surprising given the past record of the developer - SouthStar Development Partners - which has pushed through several upscale condo developments on sensitive wetland areas in Florida. The local residents opposing the development formed an organized coalition and they are holding several actions and events in protest of City Vista, including a Wildlife Observation Night this Saturday, which everyone is welcome to participate in. Here are the details: WILDLIFE OBSERVATION NIGHT: Date: Saturday, August 23 7:30-8:30pm
(Contact VFA if you'd like to attend and need further info or directions) We will continue to follow this project and the resistance by local residents. Although the site in question is small, it seems symbolic of the mentality of "building on every available green space" and we intend to support this effort to resist continued urban sprawl and to promote instead the rehabbing/redevelopment of old industrial buildings and brownfield sites. We will keep you posted on any events relating to this issue. Shut Down Petland! Protest Petland This Saturday and Every Saturday! As part of the unfortunate "upscaling" (read gentrification) development project occurring in East Liberty, a new Petland recently opened as its latest addition. No pet store that sells live animals is good. Animals should not be bought and sold like pieces of furniture-each animal, whether he/she is a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit, fish, bird, or turtle is an individual with unique needs and the decision and important responsibility to take an animal into your home is not something to be rushed into, indeed definitely not to be done on impulse at a shopper's whim. Furthermore, exotic animals, such as many reptiles, have complex needs that are difficult if not impossible to properly meet in captivity, and the sale of these animals especially should be banned. Not to mention that many pet stores that sell animals have very poor records of animal care and many animals have been found at these stores suffering from neglect, improper care, and mistreatment. But when it comes to pet stores, Petland is amongst the worst of the worst. Why? Because in addition to all the live reptiles, small mammals, birds, and fish they sell, they also sell cats and dogs. As nearly everyone knows by now, animals in shelters are literally dying for not finding a home. For every animal bought at a pet store, an animal waiting to be rescued at a shelter dies. This makes Petland and all pet stores that continue to sell live dogs and cats partly responsible for the deaths of animals in shelters. Most pet stores are keenly aware of how socially unacceptable its become to sell dogs and cats, and have long ago abandoned the practice of selling them, many opting instead to rent out their space to local shelters for the display of animals up for adoption. So it beseeches us to ask how despite all public condemnation, Petland can continue to sell cats and dogs, who by the way, come from puppy mills. In puppy and kitten mills, cats and dogs, like animals on factory farms, are warehoused in overcrowded, deplorable conditions, and continually bred, so that their puppies and kittens can be sold to pet stores. Places like Petland keep puppy mills in business. Finally, the new Petland store is within miles of the shelter the Animal Rescue League, a fact that is particularly audacious and appalling. Stores this unethical have no right to exist. A group of local activists who share our outrage have already moved to action against Petland and they need our help. They have organized weekly protests outside the East Liberty Petland every Saturday from 12 PM-5 PM. They are in great need of more volunteers to come out and join the protest. The next protest is this Saturday, August 23rd at the East Liberty Petland, 6345 Penn Ave, 15206. If you are able to come out at all, even if it's only for an hour, please do. If you miss it there will be another protest next Saturday and every following Saturday. They intend to maintain a constant presence outside Petland until it's shut down. They have signs and materials, but you are welcome to make your own signs to bring. Let's all work together to help drive this Petland permanently out of business as quickly as possible. For more information check out this weblog the Petland protest organizers set up: http://pghpetlandprotest.wordpress.com This Just In... More Goose Hunts Planned for North Huntingdon Many of you took the time to email officials in North Huntingdon in December 2007 opposing the goose hunts that took place that month. VFA organized a candlelight vigil prior to the hunts and maintained a presence outside the park on each hunt day. The Tribune Review announced this week that despite the obvious lack of success of the hunts (as we predicted in our letters to the township), North Huntingdon is planning to repeat the experience, with Rod Ansell, a Game Commission official, claiming that Indian lake now resembles "Moses and the parting of the Red Sea"... We will be sure to check out Mr Ansell's near-religious experience over the next few days, and will also be responding to the Tribune Review article, which you can find at: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_583935.html Note the following quotes: Mr Ansell claims: "Hunting is one big way to distract them and get them out of there to protect the park for human use." Oh obviously... That's why the geese population has apparently increased five-fold since December's hunts. "North Huntingdon did not have a goose hunt in 2007." It didn't? Clearly the VFA members present were engaging in some sort of group hallucination then, last December. "We don't want to be the refuge this year. It's not the animal being harvested that's important, it's just the actual shooting. They're not dumb animals. If they're not being shot at, they just can be-bop on in." (This is rare at VFA, but this comment leaves us almost speechless. Maybe it's because we're not sure what they mean... Although it would seem to imply that just making loud shooting noises with no bullets might have exactly the same effect, i.e not much in terms of problem-solving in our opinion, but still...) "Javor said the township has encountered minimal protests of past goose hunts." False. In addition to VFA's actions last year, local people have been opposing the hunts at town meetings for years. "The main problem is most people also feed them, so it becomes a friendly place for them." Ah, the voice of reason gets a few words in at the end (from a rep from the Westmoreland Humane Society). While North Huntingdon's claims are indeed laughable in many respects, the issue is a serious one, because they just keep plugging away at the same old excuses to shoot geese and avoid dealing with the problem at its root. While there is certainly a goose overpopulation issue at Indian Lake, this is not the way to solve it, and to our knowledge North Huntingdon still hasn't contacted GeesePeace to get informed about what really works... The hunt dates have not been announced but VFA will be watching closely. Pigeon Homes Needed! Could you offer a home to an un-releasable pigeon (or preferably two)...? Beth McMaster, rehabber extraordinaire at Wild Bird Recovery, is desperately seeking homes for rehabilitated pigeons who cannot be released back into the wild. You do not need an aviary, a suitably-sized cage will suffice. If you think you might be able to help, please call Beth at 724 898 1788 or email us and we will forward. In the meantime, did you know that... pigeons are one of the most intelligent birds on the planet? Find out about that and a lot of other interesting pigeon facts at: http://www.deterapigeon.com/21-amazing-facts-about-pigeons.htm! Cat Toy Drive For Tiger Ranch Cats Just a reminder...we are still continuing to collect supplies for the Tiger Ranch cats. Two collection bins are set up at Construction Junction (Point Breeze) to drop off donated supplies-the bins are to the right after the entrance, behind the blackboard. SPECIAL THIS WEEK: The shelter is looking for lots of donated cat toys. As the cats continue to improve, their need to play increases! Other needs include paper towels, bleach, premium quality dry food, canned food (all varieties), and cat litter. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far! |