LETTER: Senator Harckham is Not an Animal Lover - Westchester Rising

[Deborah Tanzer]

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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Humane Westchester <humane.we...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Nov 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Subject: LETTER: Senator Harckham is Not an Animal Lover - Westchester Rising
To: Humane Westchester <humanewe...@gmail.com>

PLEASE CROSS POST

Send letters to the editor Dan Murphy, dmu...@risingmediagroup.com  This paper prints our letters; Westchester submissions preferred.

https://yonkerstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/westchester-oct-31lr.pdf

Letter to the Editor 

WESTCHESTER RISING:

It's very nice that NYS Senator Peter Harckham got a grant for the Westchester SPCA, which he called 'an investment in compassion' (Yonkers Times, 10/21). However, 'Pete' as he likes to be called, should also release a story and photo op about one of the most hideously cruel new senate bills in recent memory that he authored - supported by almost the entire legislature - to kill deer, bears, turkeys, squirrels and other helpless animals using a medieval crossbow, in some instances allowing children as young as 12; a bill which also expanded this type of wildlife slaughter where it previously wasn't allowed. At a time when humans are gaining a true appreciation of animal intelligence, ability to feel pain, communication and love for their families, Harckham dragged us a monumental step backwards to ignorance and callous disregard. 

"Pete' should clarify that, to him, 'companion' animals are ok, at least for a photo op - but our innocent resident wildlife, who have a right to live here in peace, is just target practice and profit to him; that to Harckham, all our beautiful wildlife deserve to suffer a horrible death from crossbows, leaving them in agony, as long as the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation can make money from it. 

'Pete' is in fact a money-maker for the misnamed NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, helping them make more money by selling more hunting licences and related equipment to benefit the DEC and their sub-agency the Dept of Wildlife. These agencies are panicking because of declining sales relating to hunting...so 'Pete' graciously helped them along - aided by almost the entire NYS legislature - by adding more wildlife hunting and killing opportunities. These increased opportunities also imperil non-target animals, including dogs like those he posed with.

 Even many 'traditional' hunters disapprove of using crossbows since it reduces the challenge, leads to far more pain suffered by wounded animals, and gives hunters an unfair advantage over the animals by almost eliminating the 'fair chase' aspect of hunting. It takes the 'skill' out of hunting, making it available to less-skilled beginners who need less practice and have less strength. 

Folksy 'Pete' ignored the pleas of humane advocates who begged him to help stop the needless, disgraceful DEC hunting rampage in the otherwise peaceful, bucolic Rockefeller State Park, which turns the public's nature trail-walking into corridors of danger and destruction. He does his photo op with homeless dogs - then helps torture and kill our precious wildlife. 

So when the next election rolls in, please don't be fooled by Harckham's I help animals pose. You are a representative of the People of the State of NY, Mr. Harckham - time to act like it, instead of being a de facto arm of the blatantly pro-hunting, discriminatory DEC. 

Kiley Blackman, Founder 

Animal Defenders of Westchester

"The awful wrongs and sufferings forced upon the innocent, helpless, faithful animal race, form the blackest chapter in the whole world's history" ~Edward Freeman

ANIMAL DEFENDERS OF WESTCHESTER

www.ADOW..org

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