AR-News: HSUS/Fund for Animals Blast MI Governor Over Dove Hunt

[Political Animal]

ANIMAL PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS BLAST GOVERNOR
GRANHOLM FOR RENEGING ON PROMISE TO VETO DOVE HUNTING
BILL

WASHINGTON (June 18, 2004) - The Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS) and the Fund for Animals today
sharply criticized Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
for her decision to sign legislation that allows dove
hunting for the first time in Michigan in 99 years.
Gov. Granholm has indicated that she will sign the
bill this afternoon.

“Jennifer Granholm lied to voters, and she has doomed
millions of doves to suffering and pain with a single
stroke of the pen,” stated Wayne Pacelle, chief
executive officer of The Humane Society of the United
States. “We mistakenly thought that Granholm possessed
humane sensibilities, and she showed us how
fundamentally wrong we were.”  

The legislation – H.B. 5029 – would declare the
mourning dove a game bird and authorize the Natural
Resources Commission to establish a dove hunting
season in Michigan. During her 2002 campaign, the
Governor responded “yes” to the question, “If the
legislature finally did pass a dove hunting bill,
would you veto such a bill?”

“We wanted Granholm to preserve the century-old policy
of protecting doves not for any person’s personal gain
or profit, but simply because it’s morally wrong for
people to shoot and kill these gentle birds as a
casual act of target shooting,” added Pacelle. “Her
cold-hearted political calculation will play out in
millions of individual actions that will cause misery
and suffering.”

Several polls indicate that public opinion in Michigan
is strongly opposed to dove hunting. Shooting doves is
nothing more than target practice, as the tiny birds
are seldom consumed. These backyard songbirds are not
overpopulated, nor do they damage crops or eat
ornamental plantings. 

“Governor Granholm has gone back on her word to veto
dove hunting legislation, and has signed a death
warrant for millions of gentle mourning doves in
Michigan,” said Michael Markarian, President of The
Fund for Animals. “It is absolutely appalling that she
has thumbed her nose at Michigan voters, and that she
is personally responsible for allowing the bird of
peace to be blasted into pieces.”

The Humane Society of the United States is the
nation’s largest animal protection organization with
more than eight million members and constituents. The
HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active
programs in companion animals and equine protection,
wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research
and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS
protects all animals through legislation, litigation,
investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The
non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th
anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and
has 10 regional offices across the country. On the web
at www.hsus.org.

The Fund for Animals was founded in 1967 by author and
animal advocate Cleveland Amory. On the web at
www.fund.org. 

                                                      
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