Animal agriculture produces more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry. Eating animal products is linked to numerous health problems. And billions of farm animals are killed each year for no better reason than because they taste good. Most of these farm animals live and die under appalling conditions that would be considered criminally cruel if they were applied to dogs or cats.
Fortunately, you do have a compassionate alternative: Go vegan for the Earth, for your health and for the animals.
ALEX CHERNAVSKY, ROCHESTER, The writer, a longtime vegan, is a past member of the Board of Contributors. Read more ……
Hundreds face fines for killing squirrels
Hundreds of people face prosecution for killing pests in their back garden after a landmark legal ruling that saw a man fined more than £1,500 for killing a squirrel.
The law on killing squirrels
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 rules that it is illegal to cause “unnecessary suffering” to an animal under your care. This includes animals caught in traps, like squirrels.
It is therefore illegal to kill a squirrel by drowning, asphyxiation or bludgeoning to death.
But it is generally accepted that a blow to the back of the head or shooting is legal as the animal dies quickly. The Forestry Commission and other groups recommend catching the animal in a sack before delivering a single blow to the head. An air rifle or shotgun can also be used as long as the user is properly qualified.
However the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals argue that most people will be incapable of killing a squirrel without causing “unnecessary suffering” and will therefore be in breach of the law. They recommend taking the animal to the vet to be put down for around £30 or calling in pest control experts who will shoot the animal or kill it with a blow to the head. Read more ……
