Geese and Horses -- "Something Tells Me It's All Happening at the Zoo"

Princess and me last month at Boat Lake in Central Park.

Princess and mate, Warrior in December.

Warrior last month. But, where are the two injured geese now?

A carriage horse enjoying human attention last month at Central Park. But, will they still be here in a few years or will we have to look for horses, like geese, at the zoo?

"What is this woman whining about? There are tons of Canada geese at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir in Central Park!"

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The above question has not been posed to me yet. But I imagine it is coming -- or at least, crossed some people's minds.

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And the question would be accurate, as over the past few weeks, there have been easily more than a hundred Canada geese flying in or out of the CP Reservoir at any given moment.

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But, the number is deceptive because these are migratory, not resident geese.

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The geese typically arrive to Central Park and specifically, the Reservoir in late December or early January when watercourses further north freeze over. In search of open water, the geese can usually find at least some, at the Reservoir.

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But as fast as these geese arrive and briefly stay, they also depart. Usually all are gone by mid to late February when temperatures begin to slightly warm and the ice on northern lakes and ponds thaw.

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Throughout the other seasons, the entire of (843 acre) Central Park typically has less than 30 resident geese. (Substantially down from what it was just a few years ago.)

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In the last blog entry, I ended with a disturbing thought:  That within a few years, it is very possible that we will have no carriage horses and no (resident) Canada geese in Central Park at all. Its almost as if one of the most famous parks in the world is slowly being emptied of its resident animals (Not counting the Central Park Zoo, of course).  

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Sometimes, my friend, Liliana and I joke about this.

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"Well, not to fret!  We can always offer carrots to the vintage cars and there is excitement and adventure running across the roads to avoid speeding cyclists, swerving pedicabs or weekly marathons!  As for the geese, they will probably keep a couple at the Central Park Zoo. We'll just need money to see them!"

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Unfortunately, that is what Central Park is becoming most times of the year:  Not a place to peacefully enjoy nature and animals, but rather an adventure in avoidance of speeding vehicles, overwhelming crowds and seemingly endless sporting and other events. -- Picture an outdoor Madison Square Garden, but with cars, bicycles and pedicabs.

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This is precisely why my friend was so "upset" a few days ago when helplessly witnessing Geese Police hurl a large, rock filled canister attached to a long rope on the ice to chase off two Canada geese resting on the otherwise frozen Boat lake.

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Geese Police patrols Central Park throughout the entire year with the exception of the brief period in summer when molting geese are incapable of flight and escape. Fortunately, for geese and other water birds, Geese Police does not harass at the Reservoir probably because it is difficult to get access to for harassment and it is not run by the Central Park Conservancy, but rather the DEC.

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This is evidently another reason why geese, ducks and other water birds seek out the Reservoir for refuge, despite its scant food supplies. It is the only watercourse in Central Park where the birds are not harassed on practically a daily basis and enjoy some measure of peace.

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A couple of weeks ago, Liliana was distressed about another pair of geese who had been enduring at the Boat Lake since the early summer -- Warrior and Princess.

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Warrior was always easily identifiable by what appeared, an old injury to his neck that never entirely healed and rather appeared perpetually irritated. Liliana and I considered trying to rescue Warrior and bring him to the Wild Bird Fund for treatment to the wound.  But we ultimately decided against it, because of fearing the impacts on his mate, Princess. Moreover, as long as Warrior was otherwise "normal," (i.e. flying, eating and staying close to and attentive to his mate), we decided a rescue might do more harm than good. It wasn't even clear that such seemingly old injury could be successfully treated and cured.

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Then about ten days ago, Princess suddenly turned up injured. She had apparently hurt one or even both feet when doing a hard landing on ice. Liliana described her to me as unable to walk.

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The next day, I went to meet Liliana at the Boat Lake, but both Warrior and Princess were sitting out on the edge of the ice near a small pool of open water. They were in the middle of the otherwise frozen lake with no way to get to them.

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We brought the matter up to Park Rangers who did not bother to return the call.

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Then, the following day, both Warrior and Princess were gone and not to be seen since.

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It is not clear if Geese Police finally succeeded in chasing the two injured geese out from the Boat Lake or they were spooked by a human rescue that occurred on the thin ice that particular day.

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I have looked for Warrior and Princess at the Reservoir in Central Park, but it would be hard to spot them among so many of the migratory geese coming and going.

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Also gone are the family of four geese who had been at the Boat Lake since summer. But, was it Geese Police who finally succeeding in banishing them or simply the icy and inhospitable conditions overall?   Perhaps its more likely that it was a combination of all the factors. -- Man, Lady and the two kids apparently decided, "To hell with it. Its not worth it here anymore."

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Presently, there are three domestic ducks and one mallard with wing deformity who are consistently at the Boat Lake and can't go anywhere despite the daily goose harassment. And there are mysteriously, the two geese steadfastly remaining despite drawing the daily ire of Geese Police and the Central Park Conservancy.

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But, the bottom line to all this is that matters are not always as they appear in a particular moment in time.

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Yes, there are many migratory Canada geese at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir right now due to frigid weather conditions and iced over watercourses further north.

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But, observe the goose numbers in Central Park in March, May, August or September and tell me if I whining then.

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Considering the current mayor of New York City has expressed an intense dislike of carriage horses in Central Park and considering the Conservancy's and the city's disdain (or even hatred) for Canada geese, it doesn't require a whole lot of paranoia to imagine a Central Park with few animals and natural wildlife in just a few years.

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But, as my friend and I joke, we can always offer carrots to the vintage cars and (hopefully) see two Canada geese and maybe even horses at the Central Park Zoo.

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Ah, shades and memories of Joni Mitchell (Big Yellow Taxi) and Simon and Garfunkle.

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"Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo."  -- PCA

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DeBlasio's NYC: No Carriage Horses, No Geese and Police Intimidating Little Old Ladies in Central Park

Two geese and three domestic ducks at nearly frozen over Boat Lake in Central Park. -- Objects of Police Protection to guard and oversee harassment measures of Geese Police.

"Goose begone!"

Question:  How much does it cost to send (for more than an hour), four cops, an NYPD SUV, two employees from Geese Police, two dogs and a canister filled with rocks to harass two geese on a frozen lake and an old woman bird lover in Central Park?  Welcome to Bill de Blasio's New York City.

Currently at the frozen Boat Lake in Central Park, there is a tiny pool of open water south of the Ladies Pavilion.  There are three domestic (flightless) ducks, a few mallards and two Canada geese who typically stay at the location.

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Despite this tiny population of birds on an otherwise frozen lake, Geese Police shows up early every morning to hurl a rock-filled canister attached to a long rope on the ice in order to harass and scare away the two geese. (For other locations, such as lawns, Geese Police uses dogs to chase Canada geese.)

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On Friday morning, January 16, upon completing the job of chasing off the pair of geese, the Geese Police employee got into his van to drive away when an elderly woman approached and tapped on his window. 

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"Why are you doing this?" the woman demanded to know. "Harassing two geese and three ducks who cannot fly?" The Geese Police man ordered the woman away from the van less he would call the cops. She reluctantly complied.

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When returning home, the woman, Liliana, called me to relate the story. I assured her I would call the Central Park Conservancy to question and register complaint for harassing fewer than 10 birds on a nearly frozen over lake.

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"It's  unlikely the Conservancy is aware that there are only two geese on the lake." I reassuringly  told Liliana. "Hopefully, they will call off Geese Police when learning the facts. Its the only sensible thing to do."

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Some time later, I did call Caroline Greenleaf who is an official of the Central Park Conservancy to question what seemed, unnecessary, "cruel" actions and waste of financial resources. Greenleaf cooly assured me she "would look into the matter."

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I then called Liliana to explain the conversation and requested that she return to the Boat Lake the following day and report back what she observed.

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This morning (Saturday), Liliana returned to the Boat Lake before 8 AM and quietly sat on a park bench to observe the birds and whether or not Geese Police showed up.

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Within minutes, the Geese Police van appeared, but this time escorted by a large, NYPD police SUV.

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Two men from Geese Police got out of the van and proceeded to throw the canister on the ice to frighten off the two geese.  They were accompanied and fully protected by three policemen and one policewoman who stood close by, guarding. When finally completing the job to scare away the pair of geese, one of the cops approached Liliana, still sitting on the park bench.

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"We understand from Geese Police that you are not allowing them to do their job?" the policeman questioned to Liliana. 

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"Me?" Liliana proclaimed surprised. "I am an old, dying woman! What have they to fear from me?" 

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The two then engaged in brief conversation; Liliana complaining of Geese Police harassing the two geese and flightless ducks and the cop telling her that he "loves animals," but people have to be able to do their jobs.

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Geese Police, still escorted by the police SUV and four cops eventually left.

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When Liliana related the latest incident to me, I was utterly shocked.

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"Four cops in an SUV to escort and protect Geese Police from a little old lady in Central Park?" I questioned.  The whole story was incredible and yet I knew my friend wasn't making it up.

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Never, could one have imagined the mayor of New York City and the NYPD allocating finite  police resources for such folly. One could only imagine the tax money squandered and actual crimes committed while four police are diverted to oversee goose harassment in Central Park and intimidate an old woman not weighing 100 lbs soaking wet.

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In my particular case, it was especially impossible to anticipate such scenario in light of  weekly, angry protests against carriage horses, their drivers and passengers that have been occurring for years. Do those protests not try to "prevent people from doing their jobs" by shaming tourists into not taking horse carriage rides and calling drivers, "animal abusers?"

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How could one old woman questioning and protesting a wildlife harassment program in the park garner police intimidation while actions that have sparked near violence in heavily trafficked pedestrian areas do not?

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Neither Liliana nor myself called anyone names, expressed will to take away anyone's job (even Geese Police) or intimidated city leaders.  We simply question the "necessity" to harass two geese and three flightless ducks on a frozen lake.  But that apparently draws a SUV with four cops in Mayor deBlasio's New York City.

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One really has to wonder about the city this mayor is trying to create?

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Apparently a city where in just a few years, there will not be one carriage horse or one Canada goose anywhere in one of the nation's most prestigious parks.

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And little old ladies going to Central Park to enjoy what little nature there is left, had better mind their manners and P's and Q's.   -- PCA

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Should New York State Ban the Declawing of Cats?

Jill -- One of my four cats, none of whom are declawed.

 

Some years ago, when doing animal rescue and adoptions, I frequently received calls from people seeking help or advice with a cat or dog problem.

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One of the more common calls would concern a cat suddenly not using his/her litter box.

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My first question to such callers was, "Is your cat declawed?"

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The reason for the question (which was usually answered in the affirmative) is because the paws of declawed cats can become especially sensitive to and irritated by cat litter, causing the cat to abandon his/her normal litter box habits. Additionally, there may also be emotional components to the change in behavior, especially following trauma and/or change in environment or physical wellness.

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Not all declawed cats "react" to declawing so adversely as to abandon their litter boxes. Some cats have little long term affects at all. But, there can be little doubt that the amputation of the last bone in each toe of a cat is painful, harsh, extreme and in most cases, unnecessary.

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The bottom line is that declawing a cat is a crap shoot at best. There is no way to predict how an individual cat will react to the procedure. If problems such as litter box adversity or other behavioral issues emerge, there is no sure fire way to solve them and of course, declawing itself cannot be reversed.

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When doing cat adoptions, I always discussed these issues with potential adopters. But, I did not put a "no declawing" clause in adoption contracts nor necessarily refuse an adoption if informed of adopters' intentions to do this. Rather, I attempted as best as possible to educate and deter.

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One particular case comes to mind of a lovely, older couple wanting to adopt a cat, but with full intentions to declaw. 

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The couple lived in a sprawling Fifth Avenue apartment with exquisite, antique furniture that appeared museum worthy. It was not surprising that the couple had "concerns" over what a cat's claws might do to such pricy valuables.

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But, instead of refusing adoption to people who otherwise loved cats and would represent an excellent home, I instructed them on the proper cat scratching posts to purchase, as well as how to attract the cat to them.

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As matters turned out, the couple followed all the advice, adopted a pretty, Calico cat named Tippy, never declawed her and cherished her for many years.  

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Moral of the story, better to educate than to apply rigid, "all or nothing" rules -- or laws.

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Recently, New York City Assemblywoman, Linda Rosenthal introduced a bill in the state legislation that would ban declawing of all cats in NY with the exception of medical necessity.  (Am guessing the latter to refer to people with immune system issues for whom a potential cat scratch could signify a medical crisis.)

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http://www.amny.com/news/cat-declawing-to-be-banned-in-ny-assemblywoman-linda-rosenthal-pens-bill-1.9806211

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While such bill is welcomed by most Animal Rights proponents, it represents another issue to have serious reservations about.

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Though obviously and personally opposed to declawing, one also has to consider the reality that the fewer homes available to cats, the more cats will ultimately die.

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Currently, far more healthy, adoptable cats are killed in shelters nationwide than dogs.

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Anything that closes off potential and otherwise good homes for cats must be considered ultimately detrimental to both, the species and the individuals.

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Some of course might argue that it is better for a cat to be dead than"forced" to undergo painful and life altering surgery. But, if one really thinks about it, spay/neuter is also life altering surgery, though virtually all animal advocates support it. The thinking (correctly) in that case is that it is better to have cats neutered than to kill them en masse in shelters due to overpopulation and lack of homes.

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But, cats are being killed in shelters en masse right now due to their numbers outranking available and responsible homes.

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So, does further restriction on acceptable homes help to alleviate this grim and regrettable situation?

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Obviously, not.

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Another unfortunate reality impacting available homes for cats is the fact many apartment buildings now either ban the keeping of pets outright or place restrictions on them -- my building for example.

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New renters are not allowed dogs in my building and can only have declawed cats as proved and agreed to in the lease. (The rule doesn't impact me as a long time tenant.)  I trust this is not the only building in NYC with such restrictive policy.

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Thus, if the bill to ban declawing becomes law, even these potential homes to cats will be lost.

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In summation and to repeat:  It is nearly always preferable to educate rather than legislate as one cannot always see the nuances and overall consequences of rigid, abitrary legislation.  In my personal view, it is better for a cat to be declawed and in an otherwise loving and committed home than to be dead. 

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Most (but not all) animals are amazingly adaptable to life's challenges and hardships, no matter how unfair they otherwise be. -- PCA

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Confrontation With a Political Correctness Enforcer

A mallard hen and black duck scramble yesterday for some corn and seeds on partially ice-covered Reservoir in Central Park.

Usually when going to Central Park, I am in my own zone.

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Headphones and music playing through my ears; a single purpose of finding and chilling out with the water birds (or carriage horses) of the park.

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While often noting others' guilty of small infractions, such as runners or cyclists on wrong side of the roads, people walking on ice-covered lakes or the occasional smoker, I never say anything. "Live and let live," is my motto. -- "As long as you don't infringe on my rights to enjoy the park, I don't infringe on yours."  Life in NYC is stressful enough without going purposely out to look for it.

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But, others are not always so obliging.

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Yesterday, while tossing some cracked corn and black-oiled sunflower seeds to very hungry mallards on the partially ice-covered Reservoir, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

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I turned to face a 40-something-year-old woman and what I guessed to be her son about 12-years-old.

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"Isn't that illegal for you to be doing that?" the woman admonished in rude and superior tone.

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Feeling swift anger suddenly rise to my head, I shot back.

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"Am I bothering you?  Are these ducks bothering you?"

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"You're NOT supposed to be...."

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But, before she could finish her sentence, "Why don't you get the HELL out of my face?  Have you any idea how many thousands of these ducks STARVED to death last winter -- including many in Central Park?"

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Startled by my less than timid outburst, the woman moved away with her son.

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Yes, I'm sure she thought me some kind of duck hugger nut job, but I didn't care. I just wanted her gone. I can't stand so-called and in their own minds, "do gooders" like this. -- Especially those who begrudge the birds a few, small treats in winter.

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While most people go to the park to simply enjoy it, there are some who apparently assign themselves the duties of political correctness enforcers and look to admonish anyone bending the rules, no matter how slight. (Probably one reason I dislike so much, the anti-carriage horse people who spend so much of their time harassing carriage drivers and tourists taking rides. Some people apparently can't stand to see others enjoying peaceful and wholesome activity.)

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The woman and kid finally gone, I returned to tossing some seeds on the ice. By that time, a few Canada geese had curiously and leisurely shown up, but the mallards were so desperate and quick that the corn and sunflower seeds were fast gone seemingly before hitting the ice. (I am guessing that because they are smaller than geese, ducks probably have faster metabolisms and require more food in winter. But, that is just a guess, based on mere observance -- and of course, the waterfowl starvation tolls of last winter which were much harder on ducks than geese.)

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I then thought about the woman again and the "lesson" she was teaching her son. That of all the things to be concerned about in NYC, a senior citizen feeding ducks in the park was something to begrudge and confront.

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At that rate, the boy will be dead by the age of 30 just from the pressure, stress and anxiety of it all.  -- PCA

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Motives and Philosophies Behind Push to Ban Carriage Horses in New York City

Gino, a carriage horse of Central Park. But is Gino a poster animal for "abuse and suffering" or for human engagement, partnership and bond?

 

Recently, on the NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets) Facebook page there were posted, several proud photos of members picketing City Councilman, Vincent Ignizio's district office with signs saying among other things, "Ignizio Hates Animals." (This because the councilman has refused to support the group's quest for a ban of NYC carriage horses.) The activists are standing in front of dead horse prop (from Hollywood), that from a distance, appears real.

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https://www.facebook.com/stophorseabuse/photos/pcb.928387040539566/928386503872953/?type=1&theater

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http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/horse_carriage_staten_island.html#incart_river

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Not only are such tactics distortive and mean-spirited, but they also appear delusional.  It is difficult to imagine any legislator moved to supportive position for protestors aims on the basis of intimidation and character smear.

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But such of course have been the tactics of anti-horse carriage protestors for some time now. And not just against legislators, but carriage drivers, passengers and anyone else supporting keeping the horses in New York City.

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One wonders how and why we got to this point?

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With all the real issues of animal abuse and killing, why were the carriage horses clip clopping through Central Park chosen as primary focus for animal activism and at least two million dollars spent (particularly for political influence)?

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While there have been allegations of "land grab" of the property horse stables sit on that likely have validity (Its hard to imagine a wealthy real estate mogul pumping more than a million dollars into something because he feels "sad" seeing horses lined up at Central Park South), particular focus of this blog is not on shady politics, but rather, the motivations and philosophies of the animal activists.

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Why were carriage horses chosen as target as opposed to, for example, the killing of thousands of cats and dogs in city shelters every year (Animal Care and Control) or the killing of wildlife in New York City? (Canada geese, wild turkeys, swans and other animals.)

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There is, first of all, the perception of carriage horses as a "soft target" because they are highly visible and in an easily accessible location for protests, stalking and photographs.   There is also the fact that the industry is comparably small, employing less than 400 people. And there is the argument that taking a horse carriage ride through Central Park is "not a necessity."

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Moreover, in these days of cell phones, video cameras and social media, it is comparatively easy to photograph, edit and photoshop videos and photos to make a case for alleged horse "abuse." (For example, a photo taken at night and posted on NYCLASS showed what appeared to be a "sad and dispirited" horse with head down under dark, ominous lighting. Closer view shows the horse eating out of his food bucket. Other examples are videos shot inside horse stables under very low light and with dark, sinister, accompanying  music.)  One doesn't need to be Steven Spielberg these days to shoot compelling videos designed to manipulate human emotions. One just needs a little creativity and a computer.

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Then there is the aspect of repeatedly using and blowing up, the few and far between photos of past horse carriage accidents to "build the case" for taking down the entire tradition. 

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But, while all of these go to tactics, they still don't go to actual motives and philosophy.

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"Animals are not ours to use, eat or wear." is mantra of many in the modern Animal Rights movement.

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Such sounds plausible and reasonable when one considers the abuse and killing (usually, brutally) of billions of animals for meat, fur and other products.

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But, the mantra becomes far more complicated when the issue becomes, not animal killing, but rather, animal "use" such as working and social partnerships with animals. Taken to its farthest extreme, such philosophy challenges the entire concept of even keeping animals as "pets" as the animals have "no choice" in such and are "used" for human companionship with supposedly little or no benefit to the animals. (The animals are thus, "enslaved.")

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Prominent leaders in Animal Rights such as Ingrid Newkirk of PETA and Rutgers Law Professor, Gary Francione have argued that the keeping of dogs, cats and other animals as companions should be "phased out" as they are mere creations of "human manipulation."  It is in fact, stated goal that all domesticated animals should eventually become extinct through attrition as all are manipulative creations of humans.  (So is corn for that matter, but that is another issue.)  Evidently, this philosophy also applies and extends to all domesticated horses.

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Unfortunately, what such philosophy fails to take into account are animals' choices and willingness to actually engage with humans, presumably for benefit to them.

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Thus, when the caveman threw a bone to a wolf, thousands of years ago, the wolf chose to engage with humans in a sort of "partnership" and thus laid the groundwork for the eventual development, over centuries, of the modern dog.

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(But, according to Newkirk and Francione, who made the mistake so many thousands of years ago?  The wolf or the human?)

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Today, there are thousands of videos posted on YouTube showing unique connection, bond and partnership between animals and humans -- many of them actually involving wild animals.

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But, perhaps the most unique and closest bond of all between humans and animals has been our special relationship with horses as this recent video showing a two-year-old child walking her horse demonstrates: http://themetapicture.com/little-girl-takes-her-horse/?fb_action_ids=644357659024500&fb_action_types=og.comments

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Horses help to build civilizations, provide access and transport to nearly ever corner of the globe and have even been our partners in wars.

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True and tragically, the horse has not always benefited in such relationships and too often has become victim to and of them.

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But, that is not to devalue, diminish and banish the relationship itself anymore than those who abuse or neglect cats and dogs reflect the true value of the human/companion animal bond.

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Such is rather, akin to arguing that those parents who abuse or neglect children provide reason and "proof" for why humans should not reproduce.

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In recent decades, the movement for animal rights has, in some ways shifted and morphed from being one of "pro-life" for animals to one of being simply, "anti-suffering."

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But, here is where the waters become very murky.

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While life and death are easily definable, suffering is not. This is especially true for victims who cannot articulate in words, their actual pain or suffering.

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Unfortunately too, humans have infinite capacity for rationalization.

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Thus, chickens may be crammed four to a cage the size of a newspaper and as long as they continue to produce eggs, their owners argue they are "not suffering."  (Never mind that egg production is a biological process having little to do with the animal's emotional state of happiness or lack therein.  Many an unhappy woman has given birth to a child.)

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One problem with suffering is that (especially pertaining to animals) it is largely subjective and hard to prove.

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Another problem is that there is not a human or animal on the planet that hasn't at some point, suffered.  Suffering is part of life, both domestic and in the wild and both, for humans and animals.  

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Were we to effectively argue against all and any animal suffering, it seems we would have to argue for the eventual extinction of all animals, both wild and domestic. -- "The unborn and/or dead and extinct can't suffer."

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But is that a place the Animal Rights movement really wants to go? -- Arguing for extinction and animals' rights to be dead?

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Domestic animal suffering may be largely subjective and difficult to prove, but it has its obvious signposts and indicators:  Emaciation, untreated wounds, illnesses, scars and injuries. Neurotic, obsessive behavior and/or depression such as exhibited by pacing, excessive grooming, fear, extreme timidity and nervousness or unprovoked aggression.

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None of the above indicators are however observed or evident in the carriage horses of Central Park.

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On the contrary, the (mostly rescued from slaughter) carriage horses of Central Park exude vibrant health, weight and care and more to the point of actual contentment, all appear to exhibit engagement, alertness, profound sociability and willing connection to and with people.

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The Central Park carriage horses are hardly poster animals for the AR claims of "abuse and suffering."

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But, they are poster (and highly visible) animals for the existence of animal "use" and partnership with humans.

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And it is really this that is at the heart of the motivations behind the current animal activists crusade to banish carriage horses from our midst. 

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The activists don't seek animal engagement, but rather and only, "enjoying animals from a distance" (actual quotes from prominant leaders in AR, including the two aforementioned). 

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It is not a matter of the carriage horses actually being starved, beaten, abused and killed.  It is that they are employed and enjoyed at all by humans.

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Thus, members of NYCLASS can picket city councilpersons' offices with signs claiming the legislators "hate animals" simply because they support engagement with animals in mutually reciprocal relationships.  

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But, such is very dangerous road to tread down for if ultimately successful, it will call into question and challenges all of our current relationships with domestic animals, including the value, right and wonder of keeping and caring for a companion cat or dog or for that matter, a goldfish.  -- PCA

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