We learned early yesterday that WRLH, the local Fox affiliate located at 1925 Westmoreland Street in Richmond, had contracted a local pest control company to trap and kill stray and feral cats and kittens residing on and around the station’s property. This course of action was deeply troubling to us and I communicated to them our willingness to help manage and control the cat colony using non-lethal humane methods such as trap-neuter-return or relocation.

Yesterday I spoke with a representative of Sinclair Broadcast Group, current owner of the Fox affiliate and recent acquirer of WTVR Channel 6. This representative was unswayed by our offers to assist. This morning I spoke with Steve Genett, General Manager of Fox Richmond. At first he seemed willing to discuss a compromise solution that would incorporate non-lethal methods, but later in our conversation he admitted that bulldozers were plowing through the cat habitat at Fox’s offices at that very moment. I immediately rushed to the location and was shocked and horrified to see the swift and total destruction of the area.

Sinclair Broadcast Group and Fox Richmond’s unconscionable actions are cause for great concern throughout our community. I cannot begin to understand what manner of corporate culture and leadership it would take to behave in this cruel way. I encourage you to contact the following individuals and companies to express your outrage: 

Fox Richmond WRLH Channel 35
Phone: (804) 358-3535
General Manager: Steve Genett
Online Feedback Form: http://www.fox35.com/inside/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 1925 Westmoreland Street, Richmond, VA 23230

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc
Phone: (410) 568-1500
President and CEO: David D. Smith
Online Feedback Form: http://www.sbgi.net/contact/contact.shtml
Mailing Address: 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030

It is also important that other members of the media are made aware of just how upsetting this series of events is to our community. Please let them know by sending e-mails to the following addresses:

I know that Richmonders consider the plight of homeless animals and feral cats to be a very high priority and a cause that is close to their hearts. I had hoped that Fox and Sinclair Broadcast Group would reconsider and continue to operate as a kind and responsible media partner in our community, but that hope was dashed with their inhumane actions this morning.

Sincerely,

Robin Robertson Starr
Chief Executive Officer
Richmond SPCA

06/26/2008
THURSDAY

TO:  MY HUMAN MURDERERS

YOU KILLED ME FOR I USE TO BE THE PRAYING KITTY!!

WHEN YOU KILLED ME YOU HAD NO RESPECT FOR YOURSELF!

WHEN YOU KILLED ME YOU HAD NO RESPECT FOR LIFE NOR EVEN YOUR OWN LIFE!

WHEN YOU KILLED ME YOUR VALUES OF LIFE WERE OUT OF BALANCE WITH THE LAWS OF LIFE!

WHEN YOU KILLED ME I FELT SORRY FOR YOU; BECAUSE IT IS APPARENT THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ALL LIVING THINGS ARE A PART OF THE WEB OF LIFE!

ONCE YOU DESTROY ONE STRING ON THE WEB OF LIFE YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DESTRUCT ALL LIFE ON THIS FRAGILE PLANET EARTH WHICH WILL FIND ITS WAY BACK TO THE DESTROYER OF LIFE SEEKING THE DEATH OF THE HUMAN SPECIES!!

SO REMEMBER ME AS A SOFT AND FURRY ANIMAL WHO COULD HAVE SHOWED YOU MY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL OF LIFE!

MY FINALS WORDS TO ALL OF HUMANITY IS FINDING THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL WHO INHABIT OUR BLUE PLANET EARTH!

LOVE FROM,

THE PRAYING KITTY

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