After taking Sasha for a walk, I pull out the garden hose to clean off the front step and flower bed. All the duck poop….
And I start to think….
Austin likes being a “weird” city. Why aren’t they allowing us to be weird? Why can’t I keep a weird pet like a duck?
Austin is all about “going green” and being natural. All this duck poop makes for fantastic fertilizer… my flower bed is quite happy. But if FWS CFR 21.54 is allowed to stand, no such benefit. Wouldn’t the city want to encourage this?
They’re doing this round-up intentionally during the week, during the day. They specifically scheduled it so it wouldn’t happen during the school Winter break because they did not want children to see it. Why not? If this is such a good thing to do, let the kids see it. Have the guts to stand up and explain it to a 6-year-old with tears in her eyes. I mean, I do understand the legit need for this, but if it’s such a legitimate need, why not explain it to the children? Why not allow them to understand? My children got to see the last round-up, and I certainly have explained it to them. They understand, and I think they’re better off in general for knowing. What are you afraid of?
Maybe that just means your chosen technique is a poor one. You know, egg collection has the same effect but is far less traumatizing to the ducks and to the children. Heck, I betcha the kids would love to get in there and help out. Use it as a teaching moment, to help them understand the greater impacts. Don’t just choose a poor violent method and play dumb when the children ask where all the ducks went.
What’s going to happen to the rounded-up ducks? Destruction most likely. But gosh… duck meat may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but with the homeless and hungry in this city, I betcha they’d be happy for a warm meal. Or if you don’t want to go that route, I’m sure there are lots of yuppies in this town that would pay through the nose for fresh duck meat for their dogs. The “prescription” pet foods tend to be made of duck or venison or rabbit and cost a small fortune for a 1 lbs. bag. But of course, massive regulation prevents using some natural, available, and abundant resources to feed the hungry… or make a profit.
I wouldn’t have such a problem with all of this if it made sense. If there was valid research, sound logic. But on all levels, from the HOA to the city to the Feds… there’s so much here that just makes no damn sense.
Stuff From Hsoi 
Honestly I think it’s all about control. In every aspect. The city is attempting to ban the sale of live animals in city limits by retailers. This is a direct result of a failed “no kill” policy they implemented with the shelters and now they’re being over-run.
When it comes to “the way of the world” with animals, my son and I had the natural order of things discussion this morning and after a few tears he understands why hunting seasons are important. Not sure if or when he will be ready to go hunting with dad, but at least he understands a balance must be maintained.
Glad you guys were able to have a hand in how sneezy was relocated, though.
(you big softee – I’m tellin’) 😉
Yeah, that whole pet store thing was ludicrous.
We do need people to understand “the way of the world”. People are far too removed from the realities of the world… how harsh, how cruel, but yet that’s only because we judge it that way. The world is what the world is, without judgement or evaluation… it just strives to maintain a balance. But when we’ve removed ourselves too far away from the way the world is well… what good does it do us? Sure, we may not like facing up to those realities, but when you do, when you accept them, boy… you can sure manage in life a lot better.