Porcupine slaughter sparks controversy

The fur is flying, following last week’s article regarding the porcupine slaughter.

Social media erupted soon after the article broke, with supporters both for and against the Newcastle SPCA’s decision to instigate criminal charges, vying to have their opinions heard. In the wake of this, support for the Newcastle SPCA has reportedly dwindled.

Heather Gero of the organisation, said certain businesses had threatened to withdraw their support, in retaliation for the SPCA ‘ruining’ the lives of the three youngsters.

“We are only doing our job. If we don’t everyone is up in arms and when we do what we are supposed to, people are still up in arms.”

While understanding people had the right to protect their farms from destruction caused by vermin such as porcupines, she extols ethical ways to eradicate them. She emphasised there was a right way and a wrong way of getting rid of pests.

Explaining his withdrawal of support for the organisation, a local businessman said he felt the article was in bad taste, and the comments made by SPCA staff were unpleasant.

“I didn’t like the comments Mrs Gero made, it was a bit extreme.”

From his own experience as a farmer, the businessman said he understood the damage porcupines inflicted on crops. Generally, he continued, one might utilise poison or gas to eradicate the vermin, although most times the simplest method was to send out a worker with a spade to dig them out.

The businessman added one of the three youngsters had the potential to become a world-class golfer, and warned about the irreparable damage criminal charges could cause to his future.

While the businessman felt it was a stupid decision to have posted the photographs of the ‘hunt’ on Facebook, he also understood the frustration of farm owners who regularly deal with porcupines. However, he concluded the SPCA did good work, and was not entirely ruling out future support for it.