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June 2009 Squirrels Being Squirreled Away Paws Down! To the Scottish Natural Heritage for its solution to the overpopulation of grey squirrels—trap and kill them. According to news reports, the Scottish Natural Heritage has determined the best way to protect native Scottish red squirrels from nonnative American grey squirrels is to trap and kill the grey squirrels. A similar plan was put into effect many decades ago with little impact on the grey squirrel numbers. This plan will go into effect early next year and be reevaluated in 2012. Ross Minett, campaigns director for Advocates for Animals, believes there’s a long-term solution to saving red squirrels through “effective habitat management and development of a squirrelpox vaccine” [grey squirrels carry a disease they are immune to but red squirrels are not] rather than “slaughtering thousands of grey squirrels.” Take Action: Please write a polite note to the Scottish Natural Heritage urging them to research alternative methods of managing the gray squirrel population. Ian Jardine, Chief Executive Scottish Natural Heritage
Great Glen House
Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW Scotland Telephone: (01463) 725077 Fax: +44 (0)1463 725067 E-mail: ian.jardine@snh.gov.uk Source: www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//news.scotsman.com/scotland/No-more-grey-areas-as.5327526.jp&itemid=200906030030180.902423 www.advocatesforanimals.org/content/view/575/696/ # Governor’s Deadly Plan Paws Down! To Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for attempting to balance the budget by reducing the number of days shelter animals are held before they can be euthanized. According to news reports, California Governor Schwarzenegger is attempting to balance the state’s budget by “ask[ing] the state legislature to approve a repeal of the 1998’s Hayden Bill, which requires shelters to keep animals alive four to six days before putting them to sleep. The state government reimburses local governments for the cost of housing animals for the holding period, up to six days. “Schwarzenegger’s recommendation would allow shelters to euthanize animals after three days and…would save the state about $24 million in feeding, caring for and housing animals.” Animal activists suggest the governor’s plan does nothing to cut down on the number of unwanted animals who wind up in the state’s animal shelters. Putting money into spay/neuter programs, shutting down puppy mills, increasing adoption programs, and educating companion animal guardians are humane cost-cutting options—killing shelter animals is not. Take Action: California residents, please sent Governor Schwarzenegger a polite note indicating your displeasure with his attempt at balancing the budget with the lives of the state’s abandoned cats and dogs. The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 Sources: www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-06-23/news/govs-plan-will-allow-shelters-to-euthanize-strays-sooner&itemid=200906231901450.0576751 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/06/humane-society-condemns-schwarzenegger-animal-shelter-plan.html # |
