Re: Fox kill spurs controversy,
Oct. 17.
The killing of this fox was anything but humane. Examples of being humane are being kind, sympathetic, compassionate etc. Even if the fox was killed instantly, it would not be considered an act of kindness to take his or her life unless it was done to relieve the fox from irremediable suffering - and this does not appear to be the case.
How many other times has this happened toward other animals at the airport? Has it turned into a big joke to chase and kill nonhumans? I sure hope not.
I would like to ask Department of Highways and Public Works spokesperson Kendra Black, what evidence does she have that the fox was not treated in the way it was reported by Kevin Sinclair. Have witnesses filed complaints yet? Is there video surveillance as to what transpired with respect to the fox? And if so, please put it out for the public to view and let them decide if this was an act of compassion or cruelty.
What kind of training, if any, do these folks who go around looking for animals to kill have in the way of safe use of firearms? How about compassion or sympathy?
As reported in the News: “Conservation Officer Mark Callan agrees” that the fox was not mistreated as reported. He went on to say: “It was delivered to myself and I took it into custody to do a brief inspection of it and it looked in reasonable shape - in good enough shape actually that I considered offering it to our trapper education co-ordinator to use in his courses,” he said.
Is it my imagination that this statement sounds a bit callous? Prove me wrong. I get and respect the public safety and potential damage to aircraft issue. But, shouldn’t conservation officers and airport officials implement strict standards of practice to reduce or eliminate the need to destroy animals at the airport? Conservation officers - in the true since of the word that is - should be protecting wildlife instead of justifying their destruction.
It appears to me that the way in which this inhumane act was carried out, airport maintenance staff could have caused the very thing they claim they tried to avoid, and chased animals right into the path of aircraft.
Most (if not all) complaints humans have with nonhumans indicates a need for human behaviour to change, not more harm to wildlife.
Mike Grieco
Whitehorse