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Peta Urges New Orleans Mayor To Abandon Cruel Rat-Poisoning Plan
Peta ^ | 03.21.07 | Stephanie Boyles

Posted on 04/03/2007 3:55:21 PM PDT by Coleus

New Orleans, La. -- Today, after learning that New Orleans plans to poison rats living in the city as part of its "Rat Busters" program, PETA fired off a letter to Mayor Ray Nagin urging him to work with PETA to develop a humane, effective program to permanently reduce the rat population instead. PETA points out that poisoning rats is not only cruel but also ineffective. Rats from surrounding areas will simply move in to fill the void left by those who were killed, and as long as habitats such as abandoned buildings and food sources such as garbage are accessible, rats will thrive.

PETA also points out that rat-control expert Dr. Bruce Colvin had success in reducing Boston’s rat population by studying rats’ habitat preferences and breeding patterns. PETA offers to work with New Orleans officials to implement a similar program. Possible steps the city could take include the following:

· Bring together city officials, scientists, and community activists to develop a plan of action for the city.

· Create a "Rat Coalition" with the city’s hotel and restaurant associations in which all participants agree to keep the area rodent-proofed.

· Impose fines on hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings for improper sanitation.

"Mayor Nagin needs to control rat populations with effective, humane means—instead of by cruelly poisoning them," says PETA wildlife biologist Stephanie Boyles. "New Orleans is a city that can overcome any adversity—even a ‘rat problem’—with creativity and heart."

PETA’s letter to Mayor Nagin follows. March 21, 2007

The Honorable C. Ray Nagan , Mayor of New Orleans, New Orleans City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Rm. 2E04, New Orleans, LA 70112,

Dear Mayor Nagan:

PETA is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.6 million members and supporters. We have recently learned that New Orleans is planning to poison rats living in the city as part of its "Rat Busters" program. Not only is poisoning rats cruel, it also won’t solve New Orleans’ rat infestation. More rats from surrounding areas will simply move in to fill the void left by those who were killed. As long as garbage is plentiful and habitats like abandoned buildings are attractive and accessible, rats will continue to thrive in New Orleans.

Rat-control experts like Dr. Bruce Colvin have repeatedly demonstrated that large-scale abatement programs do nothing to address the long-term problems associated with rat populations in urban areas. By studying rat habitat preferences and breeding patterns, Dr. Colvin was able to develop a strategic plan that successfully reduced the rat population in the city of Boston. After implementing Dr. Colvin’s action plan, administrators in Boston reported a 95 percent decline in the amount of poison used and a significant reduction in the number of rats trapped—as well as a reduction in the number of rodent sightings at construction sites.

PETA would be happy to offer New Orleans our assistance in developing an effective, humane program to reduce the rat population permanently. Possible steps include the following:

· Organize a "Rat Summit" to bring together city officials, scientists like Dr. Colvin, and community activists to develop a plan of action.

· Create a "Rat Coalition" with the city’s hotel and restaurant associations.

· Impose fines on hotels, restaurants, and apartment buildings for improper sanitation.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please let us know how we can help. I can be reached at 757-622-7382.

Very truly yours, Stephanie Boyles, M.S., Wildlife Biologist Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: coumadin; disease; nola; peta; rat; ratpoison; rats; rodents; vermin
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1 posted on 04/03/2007 3:55:30 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus

Translated: “Peta wants to kill little children with the plague and other diseases.”


2 posted on 04/03/2007 3:57:40 PM PDT by aft_lizard (born conservative...I chose to be a republican)
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To: Coleus

I could have SWORN this was satire..


3 posted on 04/03/2007 3:58:01 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (Never argue with an idiot..they'll bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience..)
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To: Coleus

But wouldn’t improving sanitation and denying rats their food sources cause the poor darlings to starve to death? I would think PETA would rather provide rat feeding grounds to make sure no rats ever go to sleep hungry.


4 posted on 04/03/2007 3:59:51 PM PDT by Numbers Guy
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To: Coleus
Further proof that PETAs are insane.

Rats are VERMIN. They have no rights.

5 posted on 04/03/2007 4:00:33 PM PDT by LibKill ("RUDY GIULIANI" is just "HILLARY CLINTON" misspelled and wearing a dress.)
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To: Coleus
Finally Nagin got something right and PETA is against it.

I am surprised by Nagin but not by PETA.

6 posted on 04/03/2007 4:01:12 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: Coleus

Do they extend that concern to mosquitoes? I’m guessing their plan for preventing outbreaks of diseases like West Nile is to first hold a “Mosquito Summit” and then have everyone walk around in plastic enviornment suits.


7 posted on 04/03/2007 4:02:03 PM PDT by james500
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To: Coleus

Yes, develop and follow complex rat-control plan for a city that couldn’t even develop and follow an evacuation plan on which the lives of the citizens depended.


8 posted on 04/03/2007 4:04:57 PM PDT by DrGunsforHands
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To: james500

Dead is dead. Is there a humane way to kill anything?


9 posted on 04/03/2007 4:05:09 PM PDT by janereinheimer
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To: Coleus
A 'rat summit', huh? I thought that was known as the Democrat National Convention.

In all series-ness though, NOLA has got far bigger problems than being cruel to rats. Good thing PETA doesn't get upset about out-of-control murder and mayhem amongst people ... 'cause then they could do some good in NOLA.

10 posted on 04/03/2007 4:05:11 PM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (America: Home of the Free Because of the Brave)
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To: Coleus

I am just speechless.

Somebody pinch me before a PETA sponsored rat bites my azz.


11 posted on 04/03/2007 4:05:21 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
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To: Coleus
Peta Urges New Orleans Mayor To Abandon Cruel Rat-Poisoning Plan

For a minute there I thought PETA was protecting Pelosi, Murtha, Dean, and a host of others too numerous to name(a complete list would also cause nausea).
12 posted on 04/03/2007 4:06:07 PM PDT by crazyhorse691 (The faithful will keep their heads down, their powder dry and hammer at the enemies flanks.)
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To: Coleus
Relax everybody...

Health Commissioner: Rats Are Not A Health Risk

And they oughta know, eh?

Snort.

13 posted on 04/03/2007 4:06:12 PM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: Coleus
Peta Urges New Orleans Mayor To Abandon Cruel Rat-Poisoning Plan

Duh! PETA are kooks and the support the (DemocRATS). Now if they were poisoning elephants, they'd be ok with that (or maybe not).

14 posted on 04/03/2007 4:06:29 PM PDT by SteamShovel
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To: Coleus

I just supported Dan Rather on another thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1811500/posts , and here I am having to back Ray Nagin.

I guess they don’t have enough snakes and alligators in New Orleans to keep the rats in check. So poison away.


15 posted on 04/03/2007 4:09:04 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Coleus

Cats, Monitor Lizards, and snakes could take care some of the problem. I do think that businesses need to be extra vigilant, and not because the jerks from PETA say so.

Hey, what about giving kids small rifles and paying them to shoot the rats? Entertainment for the kiddies, and goodbye rat problem. Naaaah too easy, and the little stinkers would probably start shooting each other.


16 posted on 04/03/2007 4:09:26 PM PDT by TheSpottedOwl (Head Caterer for the FIRM)
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To: Coleus

Does this mean the DemocRATs are done in Louisiana?


17 posted on 04/03/2007 4:10:19 PM PDT by dforest (Fighting the new liberal Conservatism. The Left foot in the GOP door.)
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To: Coleus

How about every member of PETA adopting a thousand rats each?


18 posted on 04/03/2007 4:11:17 PM PDT by citizencon
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To: LibKill
Rats are VERMIN.

RATS are VERMIN, and PETA are VERMIN too!

19 posted on 04/03/2007 4:15:35 PM PDT by JimRed ("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?" (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help m)
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To: janereinheimer
Dead is dead. Is there a humane way to kill anything?

The Great Fire of London solved that city's rat problem. Maybe they just need to burn New Orleans to the ground?

20 posted on 04/03/2007 4:16:22 PM PDT by pnh102
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