THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
I am grateful for Matthew Bowers' timely article which explored the link between violence against animals and violence against humans. This link is real and must be addressed in the earliest possible stages of a young person's development.
Teaching our children to nurture humane values toward animals - all animals - will ultiamtely lead to a more humane ethic toward people as well. We must be ever watchful of the messages we send to our young people - in fact, to all people - in our efforts to reinforce this humane ethic, an ethic that includes the refusal to exploit or harm other species.
Alligator wrestling is a case in point. Any awareness the public may gain about alligators could certainly be presented in some other forum which does not include the forced behavior of ``wrestling'' with a human for someone's profit and the amusement of some people.
CONNIE C. WALLAERT, president
Tidewater Humane Inc.
Virginia Beach, June 14, 1995 by CNB