Wildlife killing contests are happening throughout many parts of the country, including New York. Coyotes, foxes, squirrels, and rabbits are just a few of the species who are victims of these atrocities. Countless animals are killed, injured, and orphaned. There are also online killing contests which involve killing wild animals and submitting videos of the dead animals. Prizes are awarded, often for killing the largest number of animals or the heaviest.
Wildlife killing contests are cruel, unsportsmanlike, and unethical. They cause unnecessary pain, suffering, and death. We should be promoting compassion, not animal abuse. Killing animals as part of a contest has no place in a civilized society. Our children, in particular, should be learning to respect animals and to be empathetic human beings. These contests should be banned.
Legislation is pending in New York to ban wildlife killing contests, A. 2917 and S. 4099, sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Senator Timothy Kennedy. Unfortunately, in an effort to get the bills passed, these bills contain exemptions for deer, bear, and turkeys. We hope that these exemptions will be removed.
Please ask your New York State legislators to support A. 2917 and S. 4099 to ban wildlife killing contests by following the methods below:
To help take action on any of these or other animal protection bills pending before the NYS Legislature, use the methods below to reach lawmakers.
If you do not know their names or contact information, go to www.nyassembly.gov and www.nysenate.gov. If you provide your address, you can get this information. In your communication, mention that you are a constituent and include your address.
Name: Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader
Phone: (518)455-2585
Email: scousins@nysenate.gov
Fax: (518)426-6811;
Address: Room 907, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Name:
Carl E. Heastie, Assembly Speaker
Phone: (518)455-3791
Email: speaker@nyassembly.gov
Fax: (518)455-4812
Address: Room 932, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248