100 signatures reached
To: RSPB
STOP THE RSPB KILLING GOATS.
RSPB stop killing goats please take them to Hillside Animal Sanctuary. Everybody agrees that the goats need to be removed to allow natural regeneration. However, they do not need to be killed.
Why is this important?
Hillside Animal Sanctuary has offered to re-home feral goats from the eastern shore of Loch Lomond to prevent them being culled.
Hillside urged RSPB Scotland to halt the cull, which is being carried out to protect Pollochro Woods.
The area is viewed as a site of special scientific importance.
RSPB Scotland have previously said they would consider alternative solutions in March, but that the cull will continue until then. They are now saying that they will continue with the cull in September.
Wendy Valentine of Hillside Animal Sanctuary said it had offered to give the goats a home for the rest of their lives rather than have them shot.
Ms Valentine, whose sanctuary in Norfolk is home to more than 2,000 rescued animals, added: "It is a shame that an organisation that is set up to look after the welfare of animals should take a stance that goats should be culled.
"We have rounded up herds of Highland cattle that have gone wild and Highland ponies, so goats would not be any different. We have 70-80 of them already.
Hillside's offer to re-home the goats follows an approach from the Scotland For Animals charity, which has also enlisted the help of Humane Wildlife Solutions, a Borders-based company specialising in pest control without killing.
John Patrick, from Scotland For Animals said: "We have presented a do-able option that is not going to cost them (RSPB Scotland) any money.
"I would have thought they would have jumped at the offer if they really are pro-conversation, pro-nature and pro-wildlife."
