Tell a friend:
 
 
.... Letters & Opinion

18th September 2012
We should take a stand against destruction of farms and produce

News that a poultry farmer awoke to the horrific and chaotic scene of six hundred of his chickens dead and others mutilated by dogs is a major crime. Indicating the area of the enclosure which was literally cut open to facilitate the entry of the dogs, he indicated that an attempt was also made to do the same to another enclosure.

Just imagine this occurs after having invested substantial finances, time and energy to keep those birds properly housed, disease free and well fed in order to produce a crop of egg layers especially at the time of year when, due to the approaching holiday season the demand for eggs is highest.

This does not impact negatively only on the farmer. It impacts negatively on us all. Those locally produced eggs would have been sold to local businesses including the hotels. Without the quota of local eggs the only other option is importation which of course means higher prices. What of the employees on that farm and their families? Doesn’t anyone think of them?
 
 
From another angle this is not just a crime against the farmer but an act of cruelty against defenseless animals. In some countries animal cruelty is considered a felony and in some instances, punishable by imprisonment or stiff fines.

“Excerpt from California Penal Code: Animal Cruelty: People who maliciously and intentionally maim, mutilate, torture or wound a living animal or maliciously and intentionally kill an animal, are guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment”.

Even when not caged the sight of a dog sends many small animals scurrying for a safe haven, imagine the panicked response of those chickens in close quarters. That news item was valid enough to be broadcast; hopefully, the timely arrest of the assailants would be considered just as newsworthy as an example to others who might consider committing similar acts.

Please comment respectfully and responsibly as we reserve the right to remove any comment we consider inappropriate. Refrain from personal attacks and using any offensive language.

Discuss Story
 
 
Top Stories  
 
 
     
 
   
Developed