
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 16, 1993                   TAG: 9306160335
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE DEPARTMENT OF CRUELTY?

IN RESPONSE to the June 9 letter ("Give the bears a sporting chance" by Phyllis Burch):

I don't believe the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has been named correctly if this sort of sick sport exists. It should be renamed the Department of Cruelty to Animals.

I'm not an expert on this subject, but as it stands now, the hunters already have the advantage over bears. It's called a gun. Why should any days be set aside to send out dogs to harass and upset these creatures, let alone endanger their young?

To allow this sort of thing is appalling. The cubs that are lost or killed due to this practice will not be there for these hunters in years to come. Has this crossed their minds?

I'm not against hunting for the purpose of food, but it's getting to the point that it's not a hunt. Seems hunters want every means to get their prey. HOLLY M. COPPOLA ROANOKE

by CNB