The Sun Chronicle in Massachusetts reported in September that an animal rights activist had her minivan vandalized and that the activist believes the vandalism is related to her animal rights activities.
Tami Myers, president of The Angry Parrot, reported that the rear and left rear windows of her minivan were smashed around 10 a.m. on the morning of September 8. According to Myers, a similar incident occurred in November of 2003.
Myers, who is a veterinary technician, told the Sun Chronicle that she believes both acts of vandalism are tied to her animal rights activities. Regardless of the motivation, such violence is uncalled for and hopefully the perpetrators will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
The Angry Parrot is a Massachusetts-based animal rights group. According to its website,
The Angry Parrot is an organization dedicated to ending live animal retail sales. Pet stores nationwide continue to thrive despite the public awareness of breeding mills. Puppy mills, once a well known term, seems to be a forgotten topic. We intend to see that the public once again is well aware of these breeding mills, not only of puppies, but of all the animals sold in retail. Puppies, Kittens, Parrots, Ferrets, Rabbits, Small Mammals, Reptiles and Fish all arrive at retail stores by breeding mills.
What is a breeding mill? We consider a breeding mill to be a company who sells animals to retail stores. By our definition this could be a huge warehouse breeding facility or a small breeder having a litter or a clutch sold to retail stores a few times a year.
Myers and her group protest at local pet stores in the North Attelboro area. The Enterprise reported on one such protest in late December 2003,
Two TAP demonstrators picketed the store on Saturday, Dec. 20, following an undercover sting operation in which they claimed to have discovered overcrowded conditions, inadequate cage sizes, filthy drinking water, lack of food and poorly bred “puppy mill” puppies.
“Park Avenue Pets, you’ve been TAPPED,” read one of the signs. More pickets have been planned, organizers said.
“It was disgusting,” said TAP activist Mary Margison of Providence. “It just breaks your heart.”
Not so, counter employees, customers and a veterinarian who all said Park Avenue Pets has nothing to hide.
“These are bold-faced lies,” said Michelle Anderson, Park Avenue Pets store owner. “There is nothing wrong with this store.
“She runs an exemplary business. It certainly is disheartening to see her go through this,” said Bernard Centofanti, a Hanson Animal Hospital veterinarian who provides care for the animals at Park Avenue Pets.
Anderson considered suing for defamation of character when TAP protesters mailed images of dead dogs with her business name as a masthead to area veterinarians and animal hospitals in November.
“I give up with these people,” she said.
Source:
Animal rights activists target pet store in West Bridgewater. Mike Melanson, The Enterprise, December 27, 2004.
Activist: I’m target of vandals. David Linton, The Sun Chronicle, September 8, 2004.