THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505240015
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Initially, I viewed the conservation chief's actions in shooting two pigs at False Cape State Park as a matter of extremely poor judgment. However, the account in the May 19 Pilot is the first time I was aware that Kirby Burch shot the mother pig in the spine after killing her juvenile and left her to die a slow death because he had only one bullet left.
Fortunately, two other state employees put the animal out of its misery so that Mr. Burch could make his important meeting and not be fearful that he might be mauled by a pack of angry pigs.
To continue this ``cowboy'' in office as the state conservation chief makes a mockery of Virginia's conservation effort and reflects the mentality of this administration towards our natural resources.
Although the governor's office could find no state regulations that Mr. Burch violated, I respectfully suggest that they read Section 3.1-796.122 of the Code of Virginia. It specifies what constitutes cruelty to animals.
JOHN W. RICHARDSON
President, Virginia Beach S.P.C.A.
May 19, 1995 by CNB