#save coyotes

Thus, I made a somewhat sarcastic comment with a simple message that started World War III on the website.  It went something like this: “Here is an idea, be responsible with your pets, don’t leave them unattended or outside at night and let the coyotes exist in peace.  It is their planet too and where does everybody expect them to go?  Should they all commit a mass suicide like Jonestown so they don’t contaminate your well manicured lawns in your fancy houses?”  I guess I didn’t feel obligated to sugarcoat my opinion.  I live in a very wealthy neighborhood, though not wealthy myself.   These people were ignorant, and carelessly starting to spread  panic that would end in a mass coyote extermination.

There are barely any coyotes I have seen running around in Laguna Niguel, California.  I have lived here for ten years and spotted exactly five in that whole time. What few remain are skinny, starving terrified dogs who are non-aggressive towards humans.  They are frantically searching for ways to feed their young and surviving from mostly rabbits.  The gigantic houses in this area, generally occupied by all of two or three people have taken away just about any space for them to live in peace.

I was surprised  and happy to find that many people being supported my views and thanked me for speaking up.  I replied in my post that  “They are just like us.  They want to live, eat, take care of their babies, have shelter and safety, not feel pain nor fear, have fun and play etc…”  I was hoping to bring out more empathy in those who cared.

It worked.  I was asked for information on how they could actually help stop these animals from being slaughtered.  However, we always have those “Negative Nellie Gailers” who had to oppose any solution that might threaten their Stepford living.  Three of them in particular started a relentless campaign against me and got me kicked off the website. Insults were hurled at me, I was jealous of their money, my cat was lazy,  I was illiterate, I climbed up stop signs and posted “Save the Coyote Signs” in order to try and cause traffic accidents… People really start reaching when they don’t have anything to say!

Sadly their spoilt child behavior ruined the campaign, I spent three months, tirelessly working to try and stop the snaring of these coyotes.  I was both motivated by the encouragement of others and emotionally drained by the Three Stooges. I don’t think they even cared about the animals, they just couldn’t stand the idea of a not so wealthy, non-white female residing in their neighborhood with the nerve to disagree with them.

Their next attack was to broadcast that the coyotes were hunting toddlers and because of this, the local politician launched a plan to target five specific coyotes who were known  as the “problem makers” with snares.  So wait, how exactly do they know one coyote from another?

I called the politician repeatedly.  I tried getting ahold of PETA, the Channel 7 news, the Coyote Defense Leagues etc…  A lot of people were also very upset a long with me. I felt completely useless and depressed. The snaring went ahead.

After the administrators allowed me back on the site again, they sent me supportive personal messages, just asking me please not to break the rules.  This time the trio of terror had had me kicked off for “soap boxing”.  I was able to check my latest messages, people frantically were asking me who they could call and what they could do.  They really cared.  But by the time I was allowed back up on the site it was too late to give out that information to those people.  It could have been stopped.  Only speaking up in numbers really makes a difference.  I will not lie and say I am still not bitter towards those poor excuses for humanity making up evil lies and the blood that was shed will forever lay in their hands.  Plus karma, God or the universe, whatever you believe has a way of making things even!  To make things even more rotten is that it would not even just be coyotes caught in these traps, other innocent species would too.  A company called Critter Busters were responsible for the killings.

The world is not a fair place.  But, I plead with anyone who cares to speak up against animal cruelty.   Speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.  If you don’t say anything, even if you think you will make zero difference, then guaranteed you will make zero difference! Many people feel the same way you do, whether it be about animals or whatever cause you are passionate about, this is the only way the world will get changed into being a better place.  Doing what we can from our tiny corner with voices that can be heard.  Though, I feel I failed those coyotes, perhaps I didn’t fail them all.  Because those people who I reached out to may just tell other people or take it upon themselves to try and do something.  It’s an cliche I know, but one we should never forget.  Because if I got through to even one person on behalf of those animals, that one person may have the power or connections to the power to stop or reduce the amount of animals that are needlessly killed.