 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Home > Outdoor news > You are here: Ohio school superintendent stands up to PeTA demands Ohio school superintendent stands up to PeTA demands (9/13/2002) School district officials in Ohio will not cave-in to demands
from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
The animal rights group wanted a northeast Ohio high school to
stop using a live tiger cub as its mascot, but the school district says
it will not end this tradition. The Tigers of Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio make
sure they have their trusty mascot Obie, a 12-week-old tiger cub, at
their football games. Recently,
PETA sent messages to Massillon City Schools Superintendent Al Hennon
asking that the school stop leasing and taking tiger cubs to games. Hennon’s response - “Hogwash.” “I think the whole thing is ridiculous,” said Hennon.
“That tiger is cared for so well, it’s unbelievable.” The animal rights group has previously taken issue with Stump
Hill Farm, the exotic animal farm where the last nine tiger mascots have
been obtained. It claims
the farm has mistreated animals, but according to Jim Rogers, a
spokesman for the USDA, the facility has no violations. “I believe the school district is being used as a pawn in a
battle PETA is having with Stump Hill Farms,” Hennon continued.
“I will not deny the citizens of this community and our fans a
tradition, which has more than a 30-year history, based on these
allegations.” School board member Richard Feucht agreed with Hennon,
calling PETA’s request ridiculous.
Mayor Francis H. Cicchinelli, Jr., a Massillon Washington High
School alum, football coach Rick Shepas and Massillon football players
are of the same mind. Recently, Hennon received a second letter from PETA repeating
its order to stop using the live mascot. In the letter, PETA’s Animals-In-Entertainment Specialist
Amy Rhodes went beyond calling for animal rights and criticized the
quality of education within the school district. “Based on some of the written comments that we have
received from Massillon Tigers fans, it appears that the school has
failed in its primary function to educate students in basic spelling and
grammar,” she wrote. Despite this cheap shot, Hennon says his stance remains the
same. “We’re keeping
Obie, and I will be responding to PETA, especially when they spell my
name wrong.” PETA’s salutation to the Superintendent was: “Dear Mr.
Hennan.” “They’re (PETA) not endearing themselves to me when they hammer the district on spelling and grammar.” CopyrightÓ U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance- www.ussportsmen.org
|
|
|
|
|
