THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF UTAH
4242 SOUTH 300 WEST
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84107-1415
(801) 261-2919 phone • (801) 261-9577 fax
www.utahhumane.org
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PRESS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE:
Immediately (October 29, 2007)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Gene Baierschmidt (801) 261-2919 phone
HUMANE SOCIETY INCENSED BY PHEASANT KILLING AT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME
Officials of the Humane Society of Utah today reacted with outrage to reports that a pheasant who wandered onto the playing field of a football game between American Fork and Viewmont High Schools was gotten rid of by being stomped to death in full view of students watching the game.
"This incident was in poor taste. Is this the message we want to send to our young people?" asked HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. "Are we still teaching kids that violence is the only solution to any problem?" The Humane Society expresses its sincere desire that school officials will take appropriate disciplinary action against those who were involved in the bird’s killing.
Mr. Baierschmidt was particularly critical of the callous disrespect for a living being that was displayed in this incident. "That bird didn’t want to be on the football field any more than the players wanted it to be there. Many of the students who witnessed the stomping may not remember what they learned in school that week, and they may not even remember much about the game itself. But the memory of this cruel act will undoubtedly remain."
"What happened is legally referred to as ‘wanton destruction of protected wildlife,’ a Class B misdemeanor, and we’re hoping that the Division of Wildlife Resources will consider it as such," he said.
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