The Canada Mink Breeders Association posted a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of “animal-rights” extremists who released 500 animals this past weekend.
Although the farm involved wasn’t located in Wellington County, this area had similar releases last fall with the Animal Liberation Front taking responsibility.
Without getting into the semantics about fur breeding, the fact remains it is a legal farming enterprise and the farmers involved in this specialized industry have ethical guidelines under which their industry operates.
The irony with this latest release episode and probably the reason that a reward was posted, is that there were dozens of young kits, some just days old, that perished in the illegal release. Anyone who knows anything about animal husbandry – or humans for that matter – understands that babies are defenceless. It wouldn’t take much to imagine the stress placed on the mother, who would still have strong mothering instincts at this stage of life. And guaranteed, the farmer involved would be equally upset because farmers actually do care about their livestock, particularly at this needy stage of life. It would seem then in their fit of righteousness, extremists left powerless and helpless animals to die.
We can hear off in the distance a drum begin to beat about the oft-used phrase, “the end justifies the means.” In their world a moral stance is grounds to defend against casualties that result from whatever action taken. In this case, an anti-fur viewpoint supersedes the fact young kits died.
This type of radical thinking continues to become commonplace.
There are ways to protest legally in the free world, and we are on side with that right to make a point. In fact, informed legitimate protest is the bedrock on which our democracy was laid. When that standard however is cast aside in favour of more militant activity, we find ourselves siding with authorities who have to act to keep order. We hazard to guess most Canadians feel the same way.
It seems to us the activists involved in this late night free-for-all should own up to their actions. If they feel strongly enough about the issue to enter a farmer’s operation and wreak havoc on it, then surely they should have the strength of their convictions to admit their involvement and be accountable for the outcome.
It will be interesting to see who steps forward, if anyone.
