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The Humane Society of Canada is pleased to announce that BC Conservation Officers have apprehended a suspect in the slaughter of 50 bald eagles that occured on BC's North Shore.
The Humane
Society of Canada (HSC) had posted a $1,000 reward through their Victims of Cruelty program to help bring to justice
those responsible for killing more than 50 bald eagles in North
Vancouver. The reward is for information resulting in the conviction of
those responsible for killing the bald eagles.
"You have to be
concerned about anyone who can have such disrespect for such a
magnificent creature," says Al
Hickey, HSC Western Regional Director. "Worldwide, bald eagles are an
endangered species and are considered to be a protected species in BC;
killing one is in contradiction of BC's Wildlife Act."
"There were indications that the bald eagles were poached for their talons
and feathers - as these were removed from the bodies.
Executive Director Michael
O'Sullivan says that it is these types of crimes involving animals that
were responsible for The Humane Society of Canada creating the Victims
of Cruelty program.
The Humane Society of Canada has offered a
similar reward for the shooting of four horses last January, and for
the shooting of a three-year-old, female Pinto pony in Arden, Ontario
in 2002. "In both cases the murderers were found, convicted, fined and
given a prison sentence. We're hoping that those responsible for these
acts of cruelty in Alberta are also apprehended and dealt with
accordingly," says HSC Executive Director, Michael O'Sullivan.
"The
sooner we catch those responsible for these kinds of brutal acts the better.
Anyone capable of committing such violent crimes is capable of carrying
out similar acts. And other animals won't necessarily be the next
victims either. Our experience has shown a link between cruelty to
animals and violence against people, so much so that the American FBI
identifies animal abuse as one of the three leading indicators of
future criminal potential," said O'Sullivan.
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