Victory for Squirrels!

[Guest guest]

I don't know if everyone heard, but it's worth mentioning here (because this is

where I first heard about it) that the city of Mountain View has relented their

decision to trap and crush squirrels to death and instead have increased patrols

and public education!! The city needs to be commended for their decision, and I

encourage everyone to write them a quick letter. The San Jose Mercury News story

is here

https://registration.mercurynews.com/reg/login.do?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mercuryne\

ws.com%3A80%2Fmld%2Fmercurynews%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fstates%2Fcalifornia%2Fnorthern_\

california%2F15760445.htm, and the email addresses for the city council are here

http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_council/council_roster/mayor_galiotto.asp.

(Please write to the mayor as well.) I've included my letter to the paper below,

and I cc'd the city council members.

 

Dear Editor,

 

I was thrilled to read that the city of Mountain View has taken a different

approach for dealing with the " squirrel problem. " I commend the officials for

taking other avenues to curb the interaction between wildlife and people and for

taking seriously the concerns of those who didn't believe crushing the squirrels

to death was a compassionate solution. The only thing I take issue with is your

use of the term " animal lovers " in describing those who opposed the traps. I

realize this is a semantics issue, but our use of language certainly reflects

our perceptions. The term " animal lover " implies that we are emotional,

impractical saps who just love furry little animals so much we can't stand to

see them suffer. The truth is I am an advocate for animals because they need my

voice. It's true that I abhor the suffering of any living creature, and that

includes people as well, but when journalists describe those who step in on

behalf of humans, they're never called " people lovers. " They're respected as the

committed advocates and activists that they are. Please consider that the people

who speak on behalf of animals do not deserve to be written off as fluffy bunny

lovers, a depiction that minimizes the important and serious work of animal

advocacy and ultimately undermines the inherent value of the lives we are trying

to protect. When officials make a compassionate decision, such as public

education over lethal traps, everyone wins, including the humans who realize

that the humane route is actually a reflection of the values of compassion and

kindness we say we have. Until we learn to live with others who share this Earth

with us, we will be compromising our own values for naught.

 

Respectfully,

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Oakland, CA

 

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Founder & Director

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P.O. Box 18512

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colleen

http://www.compassionatecooks.com

 

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