HSUS and Humane Slaughter
11 December 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been under fire this year from their poor judgement with endorsements, Michael Vick, to their most recent and ambitious fundraising effort that sideswiped their donors. No one can deny that HSUS is going down a rocky path.
We all know that HSUS is in favour of the humane treatment of animals. However, they are also in favour of the humane slaughter of these animals as well. From sharing a bed with corporations to their involvement in wildlife issues - the organisation has clearly become a nuisance.
Board of Supervisors Meeting
We had the pleasure of attending a public hearing in Northern Virginia this week, where we had the opportunity to hear exactly how HSUS feels about wildlife.
A Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting took place Monday to halt a bowhunting assault taking place against the county's white-tailed deer. Among the notable parties present were Christopher Ford of Friends of Animals (FoA) and Dr. John Grandy, the Senior Vice President for the Wildlife and Habitat Protection Department of the Humane Society of the United States.
FoA took the lead and expressed to the board that controlling wildlife, whether by limiting their populations via a cull or birth control, is unacceptable. FoA's position was clear - allow the deer to live on their own terms without human or artificial interference.
"Hunting down wildlife, whether it is by sport or by order of the county, is cruel and ineffective. The removal of natural predators has created an unstable environment, one that has placed wildlife in a precarious predicament under human control," said Ford in his statement. "We do not have the authority to dictate the lives of these free-living animals. This action is dangerous and ill-conceived."
Dr. Grandy's position, however, was disturbing. In his presentation, Grandy said, "...HSUS opposes most lethal control activities." In other words - HSUS is fine with some lethal control activities of wildlife.
Other disturbing points in his speech were his comments about ending the lives of these animals, "...we believe decision-makers have a moral obligation to end these animals' lives as quickly and painlessly as possible."
On the topic of the use of weapons in general, Grandy said, "...the use of these weapons is completely unnecessary given the availability of safe and less cruel lethal methods that are also generally more efficient than archery."
HSUS' philosophy and aim to control the lives and fertility of these, and other animals, is deplorable. Even using the words "humane" and "slaughter" in the same sentence contradicts itself.
Fairfax County Bowhunt
The Fairfax County bowhunting action is unique. In addition to using volunteer-based archers, the county took limited steps to warn visitors that the park was closed for deer management, placing them at risk of serious injury or death.
Only 270 residents were notified that the county planned to bowhunt Colvin Run Park's white-tailed deer. Officials hastily duct-taped six 8.5x11" paper signs throughout the park's 38 acres.
Fairfax County's recently appointed Wildlife Biologist, Victoria Monroe, dodged the board's questions when asked about the deer populations. Monroe, however, beamed with pride when she told the board that "17 deer were killed...within two hours."
Other park officials admitted that they do not have an agreed upon estimate regarding the deer populations in Laurel Hill and Colvin Run parks.
The Colvin Run bowhunt, which began 14 November, is expected to expire on 16 January. The Laurel Hill bowhunt began on 30 November and is expected to continue until 30 January.
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