THE VEGETARIAN BLOG

It really baffles me when people say they hate non-human animals. What have they done to us? If anything, it’s humans who have done a lot of damage to other species. It’s specially dangerous when politicians go around saying they hate animals, as did Idaho Governor Butch Otter.Wolves were only taken off the Endangered Species List in Idaho in May, 2009, but Mr Otter was very quick to not only endorse the proposed trophy hunt this fall, he’s vowed to participate in it.He told a group of hunters, “I’m prepared to bid for the first ticket to shoot a wolf myself.” The wolf hunt is an apparent effort to boost elk populations for hunters to slaughter, and will begin on September 1, 2009.Adding insult to injury, Mr Otter told The Idaho Statesman:  ”You can still hate them and respect their cunning and their place in nature.” The permit to kill a wolf costs $11.50 - with 220 wolves set to be killed state-wide. A life for $11.50 - what kind of world do we live in?Animal rights and veganism-promoting organization Friends of Animals’ president was outraged and decided to call for a boycott of potatoes produced in Idaho. “Gov. Otter’s enthusiasm for wolf killing not only demonstrates a complete lack of conscience and understanding of the word ‘respect,’ it shows a lack of respect for nature and the ecosystem; wolves don’t need Gov. Otter—or anyone else—to manage them”, says Feral.”As long as Idaho is in the business of killing wolves, the nature-respecting public should stop buying potatoes there.” Look for potatoes grown in Maine, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and other states, advises the organization.Friends of Animals is a non-profit, international animal advocacy organization, founded in 1957. Its goal is to cultivate a respectful view of non-human animals, freeing them from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world.