Posted on 05/14/2002 11:50:54 AM PDT by Doomonyou
Official defends death of raven
Hundreds of complaints against Fish and Game over disabled bird
May 14, 2002
By TIM TESCONI
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
A top state Fish and Game official Monday backed the actions of officers who arrived unannounced at a Kenwood animal sanctuary last week, forcing the owner to euthanize a disabled raven that had been in her care for the past five years.
Tom Pedersen, assistant chief for law enforcement for the Central Coast region of Fish and Game, which includes Sonoma County, said officers who visited the BrightHaven animal sanctuary Wednesday were enforcing wildlife protection laws and took the correct action.
But there has been strong public reaction to Fish and Game's handling of the case, which resulted in the destruction of a raven the owners named Colin.
BrightHaven, The Press Democrat and Fish and Game have received hundreds of calls and e-mails condemning the action as an abuse of power. Many questioned why an agency with pressing enforcement matters would send two officers to kill a disabled raven lavished with care and attention.
But Pedersen doesn't consider the action an abuse of power but the duty of officers hired to uphold state laws.
"We don't have the latitude to pick and choose who is allowed to violate the law," he said. "The interest of wildlife is our primary concern. I know that sounds harsh to some people, but really that's the way it has to be."
Fish and Game officials said they commend Gail Pope and her staff for the love and attention they give animals. But they said wild animals are different than domestic pets and farm animals.
Pope argued that because of Colin's disabilities he had become a domestic bird and no longer was a wild animal.
State laws prohibit keeping wild animals as pets, even disabled animals unable to live on their own in nature. Officers said the raven, which was blind and had deformed legs, didn't have a life worth living and was better off dead.
Fish and Game officers said Colin was euthanized because he had no quality of life.
But Pope, who nursed the raven back to health after he was hit by a car on a Southern California road, said Colin loved life at the animal sanctuary where he was the star, a cherished character with spunk.
"This is the vilest act of sadistic cruelty by authorities that I ever hea`rd about," said Matt Gale, an animal rights activist from Sonoma.
"They didn't have a warrant and won't get away with this," said Gale, vowing a response.
Pope said Monday she should not have allowed the Fish and Game officers into her home last week without a warrant. She said once inside the officers refused to give her more time to explore options. Under stress and the threat of jail, Pope said she agreed to euthanize Colin.
"I had this fear that they were going to kill Colin. I was terrified that I would be put in jail and couldn't care for the rest of the animals at BrightHaven," Pope said.
BrightHaven is home to 65 cats, five dogs and other rescued animals, including old racehorses.
Pope said the officers told her they were going to make an example of her so Fish and Game could send a message to others who try to keep wild animals as pets.
Pedersen said more time wasn't given because officers are reluctant to leave an illegal animal while on the scene investigating a case.
"We've never had a case where officers come back and the evidence is still here," he said.
Pope is exploring legal action with several attorneys, hoping there will be changes to laws so others won't go through the turmoil she and her staff experienced.
Attorneys with her Monday would not comment publicly about the case, but said game wardens have discretion in how they deal with wild animals.
Sorry about your grandma, but see, she was sick, so we had to put her down. We are just following orders.
Abuse of power. She should go shoot the JBT's dog just because he has fleas, and therfore no quality of life.
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