Pittsburgh seeks new company to kill nuisance wildlife
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh is looking for a new company to kill nuisance animals after the firm that has rid the city of such animals for 30 years decided against providing the service any longer.
The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania recently decided that euthanization was not in line with their mission, said Charlotte Grimme, the group’s executive director.
“We no longer want to be in the business of euthanizing healthy wildlife. I recommended it and the board approved,” Grimme said.
The rescue league had been euthanizing about 1,500 animals in Pittsburgh annually. Raccoons and groundhogs are the two types of animals most commonly killed because they have a high rate of rabies. The Pennsylvania Game Commission does not allow these animals to be freed into the forests.
The company that takes on the job will be asked to euthanize these animals with an injection that causes painless deaths and to dispose of the carcasses.