DEAR Editor,-
As many people know, the harrier hawks (Cash reward for shooting of Tweni’s raptor SCH February 17) became somewhat part of our Leaf Technologies family, nested in a tree at our local branch manager Danie van Tonder’s home. Danie, throughout the 42 days from hatching, shared the magnificent photos taken by Graham and Trish McGill with our company and we felt like we were watching these birds grow up.
When reading the article offering a reward for the perpetrator who shot one of the juvenile siblings with a pellet gun, my immediate reaction was to offer a further R1 000 reward.
I was devastated that this could have happened and my immediate thought was that the perpetrator of this despicable act must be caught!
But the reality of this is that it could be a young child who has not been educated about firing pellet guns at animals or birds. What if this is one of your children? How damaging would this be if he fired that gun without understanding the consequences of his actions?
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We would like to rather donate the R1 000 to Second Chance Avian Rescue (SCAR) and use this as an opportunity to plead with parents to sit with your children and explain this tragic story to them.
Educate them on the use of pellet guns, paintball guns, slingshots or even throwing stones at animals.
I urge you as a parent to understand the consequences of this incident and assume for a moment that this could have been your child and perhaps he even used his friend’s pellet gun. How would you feel next week if your child’s photo was on the front cover like a convicted criminal?
Please educate your children.
KEVIN HASSELBACH
CEO, Leaf Group of Companies
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