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MEDIA RELEASE: Cassata Organization Charged with Gander Slander for Massacre of Baby Geese

MEDIA RELEASE: Cassata Organization Charged with Gander Slander for Massacre of Baby Geese

Long Island, N.Y. (June 7, 2022)In Defense of Animals and Humane Long Island condemn the ruthless massacre of an untold number of goslings by the Cassata Organization at Victorian Gardens in Holtsville, N.Y. The National Goose Protection Coalition has issued a citation for Gander Slander to the Cassata Organization for its cruelty.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/ScyhnpvkunQ

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, a resident of luxury apartment complex Victorian Gardens videotaped two men corralling mother geese and their babies before grabbing the babies by their wings and hauling them away. Authorities told the residents the goslings were gassed to death. When a resident questioned the abductors about what they were doing, they allegedly laughed and called the resident “a c*nt” before throwing the babies in their truck and driving away, leaving grieving parents and residents behind. 

While this good Samaritan surely saved the lives of several families at her apartment complex that day, at least seven babies are now missing and the survivors remain in danger of another killing spree. Humane Long Island – formerly known as Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) – has contacted Michele Cassata of the Cassata Organization, who owns Victorian Gardens and at least six other luxury apartment complexes on Long Island. However, Cassata has not returned any messages despite a recent protest outside Victorian Gardens and a petition urging her to stop killing geese swelling to more than 1,200 signatures. 

“Canada geese are native New Yorkers and phenomenal parents,” said John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and president of Humane Long Island. “They share strong family bonds, mate for life, and mourn for an extended period when one passes away. Abducting and killing their babies is as cruel and heartbreaking to them as it would be to us. It is also a lazy and ineffective management technique. Instead of killing geese, Michele Cassata should pursue humane, nonlethal wildlife techniques, such as egg oiling, habitat modification, or harassment, like many other properties around the island.” 

“What Ms. Cassata did to these geese is heart wrenching — especially since nonlethal measures are readily available and used across the island,” said Lisa Levinson, Campaigns Director at In Defense of Animals. “Instead of killing baby geese, Cassata Organization should adopt humane and effective nonlethal alternatives to end this cruel and endless killing cycle. That’s why our National Goose Protection Coalition charged the landlord with Gander Slander. Compassion must be a guiding principle for decisions related to the wellbeing of geese, who are our wild animal neighbors.”

In Defense of Animals’ National Goose Protection Coalition issues Gander Slander citations to decision-makers who opt for lethal measures when long-term, effective, nonlethal stewardship practices are readily available. The coalition was formed in 2019 to help concerned citizens stop goose cruelty in their communities.

Humane Long Island – formerly known as LION – is the leading animal advocacy organization on Long Island and the premier waterfowl rescue from Manhattan to Montauk. Humane Long Island has worked with communities including but not limited to North Hempstead, Ronkonkoma, Islip School District, Brightwaters, Cornwall-On-The-Hudson on humane wildlife management techniques to coexist with geese in their communities. 

Members of the public are encouraged to take action to prevent future goose killing sprees at Victorian Gardens and other Cassata Organization properties: 

Learn more and find nonlethal goose stewardship strategies at: www.stopgooseabuse.org

Dropbox video and images of the Holtsville massacre and subsequent protest: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p9jkppf0k4y6crm/AABUulypKRMovNxG6JZjHaIla?dl=0 

Images of other geese killings: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWfmPKu

 

Contacts:

In Defense of Animals, Lisa Levinson, lisa@idausa.org, 215-620-2130
Humane Long Island, John Di Leonardo, John@humaneli.org, 516-592-3722
 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 38-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/geese

Humane Long Island — formerly known as LION — is the leading animal advocacy organization on Long Island and the premier waterfowl rescue from Manhattan to Montauk. Duck Defenders, an international project of Humane Long Island, is the leading online resource for domestic waterfowl rescue and advocacy in North America and advises rescues all across the continent about how to save the lives of ducks, geese, and more in their communities. www.humaneli.org 


 

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