I am so strongly against lethal control, not just for rodents, but also pigeons who have been included in some pretty inhumane "pest control" approaches in Vegas. Fortunately, we are working with local animal control to revise our animal ordinances to require more humane treatment of the birds. I've also seen how rodenticides have egregiously harmed both targeted and unintended species, causing untold suffering and prolonged deaths. Abatement measures and humane traps are by far the best alternatives, and I've used both. I appreciated reading this thoughtful, informative interview.
Annoula, thank you for your thoughtful response and for sharing your commitment to humane treatment of all animals, including pigeons and rodents. It's encouraging to hear about your efforts to work with local animal control in Vegas to promote more compassionate approaches. Your experience with humane traps and abatement measures highlights the effectiveness of these alternatives. Together, we can continue to advocate for change and ensure that our communities prioritize humane solutions. I'm glad you found the interview informative, and I appreciate your dedication to this important cause!
My beloved young healthy active smart cat just recently died a horrible slow death from rat poison. I am devastated by seeing this happen to her. Thank you for your work on this issue. I am with you all the way. I live in Northern California. What can I do?
Joanne, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences. If you are asking what you can do in your community to end the use of rat poison, James Davis has graciously offered to advise you on an action plan. His email address is james.davis@columbia.edu Please keep me posted on this. Thank you!
Rats are such a resilient creature, and generous breeders, providing plenty of meals for potential hosts. What a pity humans haven't worked out how to enjoy their bounty without poison. At least reducing their fertility is more humane.
Thank you for raising this issue. I have a long-term aversion to poisons after watching beloved family dogs die of strychnine poisoning during my childhood.
[Back in the '60s it was perfectly normal to allow dogs to run around the neighborhood unsupervised, and one of our neighbors took to leaving rat poison mixed with hamburger by his garbage can. We had no idea that the dog was getting into his garbage. He killed three of our dogs this way over the years. We have no proof that it was him, but circumstantial evidence pointed directly at him. I have no idea how many other dogs in the area met the same fate.
It was a violent and gruesome death that had a deep emotional impact upon me, and that trauma was revisited while I was living in a Guatemalan village in 1978, and the city performed its annual dog poisoning day by scattering strychnine-laced meat in the marketplace.]
Poisoning is a non-selective method of population control, clearly not humane, and needs to be relegated to the ash heap of history along with slavery, whaling, and female genital mutilation! (To name a few)
Michael, thank you for sharing. I'm truly sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences you and your family went through. It's stories like yours that highlight the urgent need for more humane and selective methods of population control. Your advocacy for change is inspiring. Let's continue to raise awareness and push for solutions that protect our communities and wildlife without resorting to harmful poisons.
I am so strongly against lethal control, not just for rodents, but also pigeons who have been included in some pretty inhumane "pest control" approaches in Vegas. Fortunately, we are working with local animal control to revise our animal ordinances to require more humane treatment of the birds. I've also seen how rodenticides have egregiously harmed both targeted and unintended species, causing untold suffering and prolonged deaths. Abatement measures and humane traps are by far the best alternatives, and I've used both. I appreciated reading this thoughtful, informative interview.
Annoula, thank you for your thoughtful response and for sharing your commitment to humane treatment of all animals, including pigeons and rodents. It's encouraging to hear about your efforts to work with local animal control in Vegas to promote more compassionate approaches. Your experience with humane traps and abatement measures highlights the effectiveness of these alternatives. Together, we can continue to advocate for change and ensure that our communities prioritize humane solutions. I'm glad you found the interview informative, and I appreciate your dedication to this important cause!
My beloved young healthy active smart cat just recently died a horrible slow death from rat poison. I am devastated by seeing this happen to her. Thank you for your work on this issue. I am with you all the way. I live in Northern California. What can I do?
Joanne, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences. If you are asking what you can do in your community to end the use of rat poison, James Davis has graciously offered to advise you on an action plan. His email address is james.davis@columbia.edu Please keep me posted on this. Thank you!
Rats are such a resilient creature, and generous breeders, providing plenty of meals for potential hosts. What a pity humans haven't worked out how to enjoy their bounty without poison. At least reducing their fertility is more humane.
It's too bad Bat's don't eat Rats.
Thank you for raising this issue. I have a long-term aversion to poisons after watching beloved family dogs die of strychnine poisoning during my childhood.
[Back in the '60s it was perfectly normal to allow dogs to run around the neighborhood unsupervised, and one of our neighbors took to leaving rat poison mixed with hamburger by his garbage can. We had no idea that the dog was getting into his garbage. He killed three of our dogs this way over the years. We have no proof that it was him, but circumstantial evidence pointed directly at him. I have no idea how many other dogs in the area met the same fate.
It was a violent and gruesome death that had a deep emotional impact upon me, and that trauma was revisited while I was living in a Guatemalan village in 1978, and the city performed its annual dog poisoning day by scattering strychnine-laced meat in the marketplace.]
Poisoning is a non-selective method of population control, clearly not humane, and needs to be relegated to the ash heap of history along with slavery, whaling, and female genital mutilation! (To name a few)
Michael, thank you for sharing. I'm truly sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences you and your family went through. It's stories like yours that highlight the urgent need for more humane and selective methods of population control. Your advocacy for change is inspiring. Let's continue to raise awareness and push for solutions that protect our communities and wildlife without resorting to harmful poisons.
An excellent interview!