Fox Richmond Bulldozes Cat Colony - June 25, 2008
We learned early yesterday that WRLH, the local Fox affiliate located at 1925 Westmoreland Street in Richmond, had contracted a local pest control company to trap and kill stray and feral cats and kittens residing on and around the station%u2019s property. This course of action was deeply troubling to us and I communicated to them our willingness to help manage and control the cat colony using non-lethal humane methods such as trap-neuter-return or relocation.
Yesterday I spoke with a representative of Sinclair Broadcast Group, current owner of the Fox affiliate and recent acquirer of WTVR Channel 6. This representative was unswayed by our offers to assist. This morning I spoke with Steve Genett, General Manager of Fox Richmond. At first he seemed willing to discuss a compromise solution that would incorporate non-lethal methods, but later in our conversation he admitted that bulldozers were plowing through the cat habitat at Fox's offices at that very moment. I immediately rushed to the location and was shocked and horrified to see the swift and total destruction of the area.
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Fox Richmond's unconscionable actions are cause for great concern throughout our community. I cannot begin to understand what manner of corporate culture and leadership it would take to behave in this cruel way. I encourage you to contact the following individuals and companies to express your outrage:
Fox Richmond WRLH Channel 35
Phone: (804) 358-3535
General Manager: Steve Genett
Online Feedback Form: http://www.fox35.com/inside/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 1925 Westmoreland Street, Richmond, VA 23230Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
Phone: (410) 568-1500
President and CEO: David D. Smith
Online Feedback Form: http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030
It is also important that other members of the media are made aware of just how upsetting this series of events is to our community. Please let them know by sending e-mails to the following addresses:
news@wric.com
newstips@wtvr.com
newsroom@nbc12.com
letters@timesdispatch.com
I know that Richmonders consider the plight of homeless animals and feral cats to be a very high priority and a cause that is close to their hearts. I had hoped that Fox and Sinclair Broadcast Group would reconsider and continue to operate as a kind and responsible media partner in our community, but that hope was dashed with their inhumane actions this morning.
Sincerely,
Robin Robertson Starr
Chief Executive Officer
Richmond SPCA
We learned early yesterday that WRLH, the local Fox affiliate located at 1925 Westmoreland Street in Richmond, had contracted a local pest control company to trap and kill stray and feral cats and kittens residing on and around the station%u2019s property. This course of action was deeply troubling to us and I communicated to them our willingness to help manage and control the cat colony using non-lethal humane methods such as trap-neuter-return or relocation.
Yesterday I spoke with a representative of Sinclair Broadcast Group, current owner of the Fox affiliate and recent acquirer of WTVR Channel 6. This representative was unswayed by our offers to assist. This morning I spoke with Steve Genett, General Manager of Fox Richmond. At first he seemed willing to discuss a compromise solution that would incorporate non-lethal methods, but later in our conversation he admitted that bulldozers were plowing through the cat habitat at Fox's offices at that very moment. I immediately rushed to the location and was shocked and horrified to see the swift and total destruction of the area.
Sinclair Broadcast Group and Fox Richmond's unconscionable actions are cause for great concern throughout our community. I cannot begin to understand what manner of corporate culture and leadership it would take to behave in this cruel way. I encourage you to contact the following individuals and companies to express your outrage:
Fox Richmond WRLH Channel 35
Phone: (804) 358-3535
General Manager: Steve Genett
Online Feedback Form: http://www.fox35.com/inside/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 1925 Westmoreland Street, Richmond, VA 23230Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
Phone: (410) 568-1500
President and CEO: David D. Smith
Online Feedback Form: http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030
It is also important that other members of the media are made aware of just how upsetting this series of events is to our community. Please let them know by sending e-mails to the following addresses:
news@wric.com
newstips@wtvr.com
newsroom@nbc12.com
letters@timesdispatch.com
I know that Richmonders consider the plight of homeless animals and feral cats to be a very high priority and a cause that is close to their hearts. I had hoped that Fox and Sinclair Broadcast Group would reconsider and continue to operate as a kind and responsible media partner in our community, but that hope was dashed with their inhumane actions this morning.
Sincerely,
Robin Robertson Starr
Chief Executive Officer
Richmond SPCA
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What harm does it do to allow people in to rescue these cats. I am disgusted that people have such contempt for living creatures.
isn't fox news cliam to news fame "fair and balanced".........i have ? them several times..........and fox sports........no reply.....tried to get coverage on nat. news........no resp. ./ donah
I can't comprehend why anyone would go ahead and send a bulldozer into an area full of living animals, especially when there's people offering to take care of the problem humanely. Cruelty to animals is well known as a warning sign for serial killers. I'm not sure that anyone showing this lack of empathy, that they can be so cruel just because they can't be bothered making a few arrangements, is really any better. I think some people need neutering as much as the cats. Anyway, we know about this in the United Kingdom now... the world is watching.
Are you for real? Bulldozing? Have you got no feeling for animals? there are better solutions then that! Neuter, and let them live. The problem will take care of itself after that. Please stop this cruelty. Please use your heart not your bureaucratic mind, this must stop NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOX YOU SUCK! I am not surprised given your attitude towards animal rights groups, you haven't a care for animals, have you? You deserve to be treated as inhumanely!
This is all wrong. killing poor animals who need help... be ashamed
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Why do they wish to spend so much money in killing when the solution is so simple & humane? Celia Hammond proves it time & time again - please take note & FAST!
Please reconsider this brutal action - animals do have feelings too and this is outrgeous particularly when the SPCA have offered to help. I thought the US was a civilised society?
You are cruel and heartless. You should have thought of alternatives. Your actions sicken me. You now have one fewer household of viewers, and a group of voices who will tell everyone they know about the inhumane views and practices of Fox Richmond and it's affiliates.
I saved about 50 dogs while living in Aruba, and shipped 6 home with me, and you can't figure out what to do to save some cats? This is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA what the hell is going on here????
Sickening, I hope you guys die in a fire. Disgusting trash.
What inexusable cruelty. Cats are living, sentient creatures, not rubble to be cleared away by a bulldozer. We had a similar situation here in the UK at the olympic stadium site where the Celia Hammond Trust had to fight to be allowed to rescue almost 200 cats and kittens living there.
I have just heard about the plight of the cats and kittens at the Virgina Radion Station site. Why are these people so heartless and ignorant, they have already been offered an alternative and Im sure that it would not have taken too long to clear the site - why dont they take a look at the 2012 olympic site in London and see that it is plossible to clear a site of feral cats and kittens before the bulldozers move in (too late in this case). I am shocked and disgusted and outraged at the senseless attitude of Fox management.
