In his column “In D.C., politics springs eternal” (March 29, TribLIVE), Tom Purcell mentioned a suggestion that PETA made more than 20 years ago to park officials in Washington, D.C.: Humanely trap the three beavers who were chewing on cherry trees and release them together in a more suitable natural location. I’m afraid I have to disagree with your columnist’s perception of “commonsense” and point out that we’ve offered this same solution for handling perceived conflicts with wildlife countless times over the past two decades, with remarkable success.
People around the world are embracing PETA’s other “commonsense” solutions to problems, as evidenced by the surge of interest in healthy, eco-friendly vegan food; the closure of circuses, bullfighting rings, marine animal exhibits and zoos; and the ever-growing list of cruelty-free companies.
We can’t offer any sage advice on the country’s political climate, but with a little compassion and ingenuity, it’s not hard to live in harmony with beavers, bulls, orcas and the rest of the world around us — even elephants and donkeys.
Michelle Kretzer
Clearwater, Fla.
The writer writes for the PETA Foundation, Norfolk, Va.