Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINNOR) is a non-profit that rescues injured and sick wildlife in the New York City area. Among the animals they have saved are the offspring of Pale Male, the world famous Fifth Avenue Red Tail Hawk.
Despite being a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator in operation for over a decade, the Town of Oyster Bay, Long Island is threatening to shut WINORR down.
Following alleged anonymous complaints from nearby property owners, town officials charged WINORR with keeping "dangerous animals" in a residential area in violation of town ordinance.
"Dangerous animals" like ducks, turkeys, owls hawks and baby foxes.
Tell Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto to drop all charges immediately and stop unfairly targeting WINORR in this suburban witch hunt.
Supervisor Venditto,
We urge you to end to Oyster Bay's unfair targeting of the non-profit Wildlife in Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation (WINORR), and its directors Bobby and Cathy Horvath.
Despite being a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator operating in the same location for over 10 years, last week - after alleged anonymous complaints - authorities charged WINORR with keeping "dangerous animals" in a residential area and ordered them to close their doors.
Nowhere in the statue the town claims the Horvaths violated is "residential area" mentioned. However, the ordinance does leave room for exceptions by stating that the code is applicable, "unless otherwise expressly stated or unless the context or subject matter requires otherwise." In this case the context and subject matter does require otherwise.
WINNOR has long been a key member of the community, filling an essential need by rescuing injured and sick wildlife in the Long Island and New York City area. Among the animals they have saved over the years are the offspring of Pale Male, the world famous Fifth Avenue Red Tail Hawk. Your own government even calls on them regularly for help.
This selective enforcement against WINORR is nothing more than a suburban witch hunt being carried out by authorities at the behest of petty individuals who do not have the larger community’s interests at heart. They do not even have the courage of their convictions to reveal their identity.
There are tens of thousands of us who have been willing to actually put our names to paper and want WINORR kept open.
We the undersigned ask for the following:
1) That any charges against WINORR and the Horvaths be dropped.
2) End the unfair targeting of WINORR, a valued community member of Oyster Bay and the larger tri-state area.
3) Lastly, permit the Horvaths to continue operating WINORR out of their home just as they have for over a decade.
