The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
The Mount Trashmore geese are gone, but they didn't fly south in a V-formation. They caught a ride in a city dump truck.
The Trashmore 66 now are on an animal sanctuary in Monroe, N.C., where they're being fed twice a day.
"They're swimming around the pond, doing what geese do," said Jeff Wylie, who runs the farm.
Life might be good for the geese, but how they got to that pond five hours away has infuriated the Virginia Beach SPCA, which worked with the city and wrote a management plan for the birds. The organization feels burned that the geese were removed from Mount Trashmore without the SPCA being notified.
"I'm angry," said Sharon Adams, executive director of the SPCA. "Please don't call me 'upset' because that's what little old ladies get. I'm angry. It's ridiculous."
The SPCA found out that the geese had been moved after it checked on the geese - and couldn't find them - between Christmas and New Year.
About a week and a half earlier, Shawn Hopson, Virginia Beach's open-space manager, had organized a goose roundup. On Dec. 17, Hopson, along with a waterfowl biologist for the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, a state veterinarian and two city staffers, went to Trashmore to capture the geese.
Hopson said that while he fed the geese, the others held big panels and slowly closed in to wall off the birds.
"We were able to capture every one that was out there, except one goose," Hopson said. "I will try to go out there this week and capture that bird and get it with its family."
That doesn't matter, Adams maintained.
The SPCA was one of the partners in the plan, along with the city, and should have been involved, she said. A sentence in the management plan reads: "All partners will participate in oversight of capture and will assist adopters with transport arrangements."
"It's not a misunderstanding," Adams said, "it's not a miscommunication, it's not any of that. We spent a year and a half on this thing and, you know, we were just lied to."
The SPCA can't ensure the geese were captured and moved in a humane manner, she said, because no one from the group watched it.
Hopson conceded that he did not call the SPCA - or another partner, the Humane Society of the United States. He didn't, he said, because he was afraid the farm might change its mind on taking the 66 geese and he wanted to get them to the sanctuary before the holidays.
"The plan says all partners will participate in oversight and capture," Hopson said, "it doesn't say they'll be there.
"I'm sorry the SPCA is upset, but basically we executed the plan that they wrote. I know they feel like I left them out on purpose."
The veterinarian's findings after the geese were captured demonstrated the urgency of getting the geese away from Mount Trashmore, Hopson said. Ten birds could not be released on the farm because of injuries such as a cracked skull, broken wings and damaged bills, he said. A couple were scrawny from malnutrition. The injured birds are with a wildlife rehabilitator and will be sent to the farm once they recover.
The city recently passed an ordinance forbidding the public to feed the geese because in such numbers they could spread disease, become ill and pollute the water. Rick Rowe, parks and recreation coordinator, said the city already has received comments that Mount Trashmore park seems cleaner without the goose droppings.
Hopson drove the dump truck and took the geese to their new home himself, and he said they all survived. They are on a farm named "Why Not an American Ark," a 125-acre spread that hosts horses, cows, llamas, zebras and buffaloes.
Wylie, the farm owner, said the geese adjusted well. They've broken themselves into two groups, and usually keep to separate sides of the pond. Told that some people had names for the geese and liked to feed them, he said he'd post pictures on the sanctuary's Web site.
"If anybody still wants to feed them, we'll take donations for the corn," Wylie said. "They can eat a lot of corn."
Lon Wagner, (757) 222-5119, lon.wagner@pilotonline.com
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they're here and they're fine
I live not far from the farm where the geese ended up. My co-worker e-mailed the owners of the farm with a copy of the VA Pilot article. The owner of the farm said, "Thank you (for the article) ! They are all still here at the ark and appear to be happy at their new home with us:) "
No worries - the farm is a great place for animals and people!
Solo Reunited with his family today!
Solo the remaning goose was reunited today with his family! See the video here
http://flickr.com/photos/85081070@N00/
I Spoke to Shawn Hopson Myself Today
I spoke to Shawn Hopson myself today and was given valuable information. They will be issuing a statement, as well as providing photos and documentation about the move, the geese (and 1 duck), their condition and where they were relocated to. I think it is important that the city and the VBSPCA continue to work together, rather than let this "incident" allow them to fail to communicate. I don't think that the SPCA should withdraw from any programs regarding waterfowl, or any other animal for that matter. The SPCA is invaluable to the city, and the SPCA needs the city as well. Working together to foster a better relationship, set boundaries, agree on responsibilities and to make a plan for the future is what is most important. What is important here is the animals. People who care about animals, and who are compelled to do something to help them, are left with this weight on their shoulders because of those people who are irresponsible. We need to stop, think about the ultimate goal, and work together to not only help these animals, but change how people cause and contribute to the suffering and neglect of these abandoned animals to begin with.
How About Everyone Work On Improving Where Needed?
Now, how about everyone writing on this board think about this. What can we all do as citizens to improve the relationship between the city and the VBSPCA? We should all be working together to improve the lives of abandoned animals. We should all be working together to ensure the city enforces state and city laws in regards to animal welfare. And we should all show those who are irresponsible pet owners, no matter what type of pet they own, that this behavior of just abandoning their pets isn't acceptable to us. Where is the responsibility that we all must share in? Groups like the SPCA exist because it is people who are the ones causing these "problems" like "poo" at Mount Trashmore. Don't complain about the animals, complain about the people putting those animals in the situation of being abandoned, unhealthy, not fed and in conditions that aren't conducive to their needs. Everyone working together is what is needed not only in regards to this issue, but all issues that face animals in this city, this area and the state.
Response to VBCitizen00
VBCitizen00, The VBSPCA is a good steward of the money they receive. The comment you made "the SPCA needs to stick with taking in animals and finding them homes" is extremely disrespectful. Do you know how many animals they "take in"? Domesticated animals, as well as animals through their wildlife rescue program. Do you know why SPCAs exist to begin with? Irresponsible people. How about everyone complain to the city about how pet owners are irresponsible and contributing to the problem of the thousands of homeless and unwanted animals being abandoned in areas of Virginia Beach like Mount Trashmore every year. Take a look at a site called Charity Navigator, you will be able to see there how fiscally responsible the VBSPCA actually is.
Response to markk33831
markk33831, Whether I use Mount Trashmore for anything or not, isn't the issue. And I do know the "issue" as most see it about the geese. People want to complain about the "mess" the geese leave behind, but they don't want to accept responsibility for it. Wild animals are free to go where they please, in case you didn't notice, because wild geese land there all of the time. Not every place on the planet should be set aside for just people. What you deem a "nuisance" is my problem. You should look at why the geese were there - because irresponsible people dumped them off there! If you didn't like the park being covered in "poo", then how about helping ensure that laws are enforced and people are actually punished for dumping off animals when they decide they don't want them anymore. People are the real problem here.
Response to luvthesuns
luvthesuns, I live in Virginia and wouldn't need to take a plan to see the "ARK". Did I put them down? No. I stated that as the article in the Pilot said it was a sanctuary, it is not. It isn't a sanctuary, it is a facility that is open for reasons other than rescuing geese. Correct? Yes.
Response to marym63204
marym63204, The word ass isn't a profanity. I know the issue surrounding the "angry" and "upset" comment, however the fact that it is an issue was my point. Those are words and a comment, people are taking offense to it and forgetting the issue. I did write a letter to the editor, but thanks for suggesting it, although you were obviously a little late doing that.
SPCA is absolutely right
I agree 100% with the SPCA in this matter. Clearly, something untoward happened during the actual physical removal of these geese and Shawn Hopson is trying to cover it up. His explanations in the above story are mind-bogglingly ludicrous:
"Hopson conceded that he did not call the SPCA - or another partner, the Humane Society of the United States. He didn't, he said, because he was afraid the farm might change its mind on taking the 66 geese and he wanted to get them to the sanctuary before the holidays." - how in the world would having the SPCA or HSUS involved in the physical removal of the geese have any impact on the accepting shelter changing its mind about accepting the geese?! Any reputable shelter would have been happy to know that another animal welfare group here was assisting in physically capturing and transporting the geese.
"The plan says all partners will participate in oversight and capture," Hopson said, "it doesn't say they'll be there." - does Mr. Hopson seriously expect people to believe that a plan that specifically states "all partners will PARTICIPATE in oversight and CAPTURE" doesn't mean that he had an obligation to have the SPCA and/or HSUS involve
Nuccigirl
The city hasn't lost *my* trust. The geese needed a secure, safe, compassionate environment and they were compassionately moved there, tended by a veterinarian. Seems the SPCA believes they have to buy off on all animal decisions in VB. Why? Aren't they a private agency? Who made them God? If I decide to get my cat neutered, should I call them to sign off on that, too? . . .