GASTON CO., NC — There’s a new push to fire Gaston County’s Parks and Recreation Director after 144 geese were euthanized over the summer.
The county paid a federal agency to gas the geese at Dallas Park in June.
Angry animal rights advocates presented commissioners with a petition Tuesday night. Six thousand people signed the petition.
Becky Duffeck, who started the petition, wants geese to be allowed back in the park. She also wants commissioners to ban the pyrotechnics gun used to keep the birds away.
“This is sending a really terrible message to our children that if you have a problem with animals, you just kill them,” said Duffeck.
Gaston County Commissioner Tom Keigher says he’s ready to move on.
“Enough is enough! We get it. They’ve been coming to harass, complain and belittle us,” said Gaston County Commissioner Tom Keigher.
But advocates are not ready to move on.
“We have a responsibility as human beings to make sure we don’t maliciously kill something if it’s not causing harm, not threatening. They’re not making nobody sick,” said Lisa Meeks, a Dallas resident.
Gaston county reps say park visitors have been complaining about excessive bird feces, occasional geese bites, and concerns about the risk of E-coli.
“We would also like to have Cathy Hart removed and replaced with a parks director who is humane and cares about wildlife and will not gas our geese,” said Duffeck.
The advocates want commissioners to create an ordinance that would only allow killing geese as a last resort.
