The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is proposing new regulations for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators in Kentucky that will perpetuate the inhumane treatment of wild animals deemed as "pests." We need your help to convince the KDFWR to cancel these proposed regulations and instead adopt new regulations that include guidelines for humane treatment of wildlife.
What's Wrong with the Proposed Regulations
The proposed regulations do not include any method of ensuring that wildlife removed from residential areas, farming facilities, and commercial properties will be treated humanely.
The proposed regulations actually allow Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators to sell captured animals directly to hunters to be gunned down or maimed by their hunting hounds.
The proposed regulations do not include any requirement for property owners to be informed that wildlife removed from their homes may be killed, most likely by inhumane methods such as drowning or injection of acetone.
The proposed regulations contain no guidelines regarding humane euthanasia of captured animals. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators will be able to continue using cruel devices such as snares, leghold traps, and body-crushing type traps.
Please write to the Governor of Kentucky and the Commissioner of KDFWR to urge them to cancel these proposed regulations and adopt new regulations that include guidelines for humane treatment and euthanasia of wildlife.
In addition to the points above, you might want to include these points in your letter:
The new regulations need to include euthanasia guidelines provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Animal welfare representatives should be included in the advisory committee in formulating the new wildlife control regulations.
A large percentage of wildlife problems can be eliminated by basic public information. This will save homeowners huge amounts of money and will prevent problems from reoccurring.
Please write to:
Governor Paul Patton
100 State Capitol
Frankfort, KY 406011
502-564-2611
Commissioner Tom Bennett
KDFWR
#1 Game Farm Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-3400
Your letters will make a tremendous difference in the treatment
of wildlife in Kentucky.
If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Fox at API at
916-731-5521 or email to CFOXAPI@aol.com.
Or contact the Fund for Animals' Kentucky office at 502-587-0508.