Dobbs BoT: PETA Campaign Against Dobbs Ferry Officials Unfounded

If you live in Dobbs Ferry or anywhere in Westchester, there's a good chance you received an email from the animal rights organization PETA that went something like this:

Dear Your Name,

Distressed New York residents are calling PETA because they are outraged that officials in Dobbs Ferry are considering the use of cruel bowhunting to control resident deer populations. PETA recently informed village officials of the extreme cruelty of bowhunting, but our concerns have apparently fallen on deaf ears.

Bowhunting is among the cruelest forms of hunting. Bowhunters often spend hours following the bloody tracks of wounded animals before finding them. Many are not found, and their deaths are slow and painful. It can even take weeks for some to succumb to their injuries. Hunting tears families apart and leaves young and weak animals completely vulnerable to starvation, dehydration, and predators.

Please urge Dobbs Ferry officials to oppose the use of bowhunting to control deer populations and ask them to stick with humane, effective measures.

According to Dobbs Ferry officials, the organization's accusation that Dobbs Ferry is formally considering to cull deer as a means to curb overpopulation is false.

"We have not made any decisions; nor have we heard any formal recommendation from the ad hoc deer committee," said Deputy Mayor Catherine Kay.

Residents approached the board on Tuesday night requesting the mayor and trustees consider joining forces with Hastings to try immuno-contraception, a non-lethal approach to deer management, in which does, essentially, are vaccinated with birth control. The board responded that they had confidence in the volunteers on the village deer committee and are waiting for their input before even broaching the discussion.

During the summer when PETA began its email blast, Mayor Hartley Connett said he would make no further comments other than to reiterate that no decisions had been made.

"Unfortunately, with the Internet and the digital world we now live in it is pretty easy for any group with an agenda to spread mis-information or spread rumors which have no basis in fact. This is just another example, and there is not much anyone can do about it," Connett said.