Huge news for rats in New York City: The City Council unanimously voted to pass Flaco’s Law, which will introduce a rat birth control pilot program in two city neighborhoods.
We’ve urged New York City to use non-lethal methods to control its rat population for years, and we’re thrilled that it’s using birth control, which showed great promise last year in a Boston trial.
PETA Advocated Empathy For Rats
Mayor Eric Adams has said he “hates rats,” and even declared “war” on them, making a show of hiring the city’s first “Rat Czar” last year. Doesn’t he know that hate never wins?
PETA urged the city’s Czar to prioritize effective control methods like trash mitigation and birth control over cruel, lethal methods such as poison and suffocation, which don’t address the birth of rats, nor the cause of their presence.
We also sent Mayor Adams an empathy kit with our iconic “Rats Have Rights” mug, in hopes that he will have some understanding for rats, who express empathy when another rat or a human they know is in distress.
Don’t Want Rats? Don’t Leave Trash!
Rats have never been out to terrorize New York, or any city: They just adapted well to the trash-strewn streets! If the New York City government really wants its rats to move out, continuing to support its “Trash Revolution” will get the job done.
Prevent Rats, Don’t Kill Them!
Instead of using glue traps, poison, snap-traps, or other methods that maim and kill rats instead of preventing their presence, be somebody who breaks the cycle of violence.
Whether you rent an apartment or own a home, there are plenty of humane solutions to removing and preventing rats from taking up residence with you, including removing sources of food and water and sealing up entrances that animals can enter through.
Note: PETA supports animal rights and opposes all forms of animal exploitation and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.
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