Public Outrage halts states execution of Snake head ...
- Thread starter Red Devil
- Start date
Suburban Syracuse family begs Gov. Paterson: Save our snakehead fish!
BY Matthew Lysiak and Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Wednesday, March 18th 2009, 2:28 AM
A suburban Syracuse family wants Gov. Paterson to let their Death Row-bound pet snakehead fish off the hook.
The Deversos bought Rocky, a 28-inch, razor-toothed terror, from a local pet shop in 1999, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation has since banned the Asian species because they wreak havoc on New York's ecosystem.
"They told us they are going to freeze Rocky or cut off his head any day now, said Chris Deverso, who contends the 10-year-old fish wouldn't hurt a fly.
"We already asked all of our local officials to intervene, but no one will help," said the 37-year-old auto inspector. "Gov. Paterson is the only one left who can save Rocky from this unjust execution."
Deverso, along with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 16, have phoned the governor's office asking for the pet to be spared to no avail.
Killing snakeheads is a matter of state security, said Yancey Roy, spokesman for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The fish can migrate over land from one body of water to another and have few natural predators.
"If this snakehead reached a nearby lake, it could be devastating," Roy said.
Conservation officials killed 226 snakeheads in an Orange County pond last year. If left unchecked, the voracious predators can wipe out other fish species.
"Rocky would have to jump out of the aquarium, open a door and hop in an airplane to find water where he can survive," Deverso said in Rocky's defense.
"The kids are a wreck," said his wife, Beth Deverso. "Every morning we eat breakfast with Rocky in the kitchen and he follows us around with his eyes."
BY Matthew Lysiak and Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Wednesday, March 18th 2009, 2:28 AM
A suburban Syracuse family wants Gov. Paterson to let their Death Row-bound pet snakehead fish off the hook.
The Deversos bought Rocky, a 28-inch, razor-toothed terror, from a local pet shop in 1999, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation has since banned the Asian species because they wreak havoc on New York's ecosystem.
"They told us they are going to freeze Rocky or cut off his head any day now, said Chris Deverso, who contends the 10-year-old fish wouldn't hurt a fly.
"We already asked all of our local officials to intervene, but no one will help," said the 37-year-old auto inspector. "Gov. Paterson is the only one left who can save Rocky from this unjust execution."
Deverso, along with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 16, have phoned the governor's office asking for the pet to be spared to no avail.
Killing snakeheads is a matter of state security, said Yancey Roy, spokesman for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The fish can migrate over land from one body of water to another and have few natural predators.
"If this snakehead reached a nearby lake, it could be devastating," Roy said.
Conservation officials killed 226 snakeheads in an Orange County pond last year. If left unchecked, the voracious predators can wipe out other fish species.
"Rocky would have to jump out of the aquarium, open a door and hop in an airplane to find water where he can survive," Deverso said in Rocky's defense.
"The kids are a wreck," said his wife, Beth Deverso. "Every morning we eat breakfast with Rocky in the kitchen and he follows us around with his eyes."
I feel ripped off... that article didn't convey what i thought it would. Just look at it's opening. They make him sound awful off the bat.
