Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss - Nothing "Humane or Progressive" in Goose Massacres

 Geese and goslings captured and awaiting death during last year's USDA WS roundups. (Photo credit:  Van Scott.)

 Barely hatched, these goslings on USDA WS's "hit list."  (Photo credit: Van Scott)

They have begun their NYC goose massacres early this year -- barely before all the geese have even fully molted.

.

It makes one wonder if USDA Wildlife (Extermination) Services has a particularly packed schedule this summer?  It must be nice to be so in demand.  Especially from a city that prides itself upon being "leader of humane and progressive values."

.

According to (27) GooseWatch NYC, the official USDA roundups began yesterday in Brooklyn.

.

Nevermind that temperatures over the past two days in NYC have soared to 90 degrees with high humidity. And nevermind that the geese are packed 4 to 5 to small turkey crates and trucked long distances to slaughter in hot trucks.

.

When you got a "job" to do, you do it.

.

One is reminded that when our current mayor was running in tight primaries and scrambling for support and votes, he made lots of promises.

.

Bill deBlasio particularly appeared to pander to animal rights advocates, promising to get rid of horse drawn carriages on his "first days in office" and promising a "progressive and humane" administration on other animal issues, including our Canada geese.

.

None of that has come to pass as one can hardly consider wildlife torn from public parks for slaughter to be either "progressive" or "humane."

.

Personally, I was dubious of deBlasio's claims because (particularly on the goose issue), he was vague and non-committal.   We were after all, talking about a guy who didn't even support a pet goldfish.

.

But, here it is, 7 months following deBlasio's election to mayor with lots of help (and money) from the animal rights community and one could easily argue that nothing has changed for animals in New York City.

.

Certainly not the goose slaughters -- except for the fact, they have started earlier this year.

.

It is one thing to learn of goose slaughters occurring in other areas of the country where perhaps the people are not so "sensitive" to animal cruelty as New Yorkers claim to be or the municipalities lack funds to address any human/goose "conflicts" more humanely such as through harassment or egg addling.  It is quite another to learn of them continuing to occur in a city that refers to itself as the long time "leader in progressive and humane values."

.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

.

Indeed, what stands as the most disturbing reality of these horrific goose massacres occurring year after year in New York City is that in so many ways we otherwise define and hold ourselves up as progressive "role model" to the rest of the country.

.

But, I say, God forbid the rest of the nation follow our example of "humanely resolving animal/human conflict."

.

We, like our new mayor, talk a good game, but that's all it is -- talk.

.

And meanwhile, agents for USDA Wildlife Extermination Services continue to silently stalk our parks with the dawn's first light to terrorize, gather up and send to their unceremonious and unjustified deaths, innocent wildlife just trying to peacefully get through the day. All this without sentence in the media nor protest from those pretending to care.

.

So where are all these "progressive and humane" politicians now who, only months ago, promised us better times and better times for the animals?

.

"Meet the new boss.  Same as the old boss." 

Only in deBlasio's case, he talks a better game.

.

Curse us, the fools who listened and bought into. -- PCA

.

.

.

                                            *************