The fox article a link to read it.

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
I'm sorry your story has become part of the daily news Ann. Best of luck to you and your neighbors that the situation with the foxes cxan be resolved fairly and without harm to any of you or the animals.

These are my opinions, nothing personal against you, your neighbors, the police, whomever...

You can't have it both ways (in regards to the neighbor who is a hunter). The police should have notified the neighbors to take their children away from the scene if he knew he was going to use extreme measures to protect you all from the fox. Why didn't Animal Control come and take the fox family to shelter or somewhere outside the neighborhood?

I think they should conduct rabies testing on that animal, and further take the others off your property and put them in an environment away from people and houses. I wouldn't have wanted them on my property for such reasons as you have expressed in your posts. Foxes are wild animals and should not be treated as pets.

There children were no where near the scene. My son was not either. Our yards have a large thick wooded area between them and the den is behind my house. It is impossible for their children to have seen it. Also their children were not shocked at all they were yelling and screaming and taunting us but not shocked.

 

[nativetxn]

I hope that your neighbors will just forget this now that they got the attention they wanted.

I don't think the article cast you in a bad light. Sorry you are having to deal with such cruel hearted people. I, too, would call the police about the cow hoof or any other "gifts" they might leave you.

 

[piratesmate]

I missed all of this saga except for seeing the initial post about there being a fox in your yard. This is what I got from the article:

You were concerned & the police responded. Anything that happened to the young fox was the "responsibility" of the offiers, not the person who called. "Most" neighbors wanted a rabies test done (indicating concern over the fox, not its fate). One neighbor thought it wasn't a threat & one was annoyed at the way the police handled it.

You did not come off poorly in the article! Frankly, the neighbor who quoted its weight sounded - well, nuts! If rabid bats & squirrels are a concern (weighing only ounces) who cares how big it was?!?!? Not wanting to be quoted simply said to me that you wanted to "stay out of it."

I'm so sorry that you're having trouble with neighbors over this. Please, please stop beating yourself up over it!

Re: the cow's hoof - I'd be concerned that this could escalate. That in itself is already over the top. (I know . . . DUH!) I'd call the police to simply "inform" them & not make any suggestions as to who might be doing it. They should then ask to be kept apprised of any further problems. It will be on the record & hopefully, they'll respond quickly the next time - should there be one.

{{{HUGS!!!}}}

Deb

 

[AnnMorin]

I did take pictures of it and might tell the cops if someting else happens . It is definately NOT the dog chew type as it has fresh manure on it.. anyhow in regards to Susan (who's husband is the hunter) the fox could in no way be only 4-5 pounds I took pictures of it in the past two weeks and they are on webshots,if anyone wants to see here is the link, hopefully I can get the hoof up there for some reason (maybe the heat) it is taking a long time
http://community.webshots.com/album/77454888txAxjX
I am also mad at how it was said that children saw this, it is physically impossible as my back yard is about 800-1000 feet from Mr. Simmons he is two houses down on a very large culdesaque, and my back yard faces west and his faces south, plus it is very wooded and the den is in the woods. There is no way it would be possible for anyone but my husband and the officer to see the destruction ( I didn't even) Also I warned them about the aggressive fox long before that weds. and no one spoke up.... oh this is just making me miserable now everyone is going to think we tramautized children. Jay says just let it go but I really think I need to defend myself, I wish the reporter did her homework before she let him lie. Two other neighbors were not contacted and they are glad that one is gone.

 

[mrsdon]

I think your neighbor is nuts. A wild animal is a WILD animal. They may look cute and cuddly, but they are still wild.
Im sorry that they are acting like you killed a pet. A fox is not a pet.

 

[Pembo]

Ann-I've only read part of your posts but I did read the article. I don't think you look bad in this at all. The den was on your property, the foxes were being a nuisance to you, you handled the situation properly and the police did their job. Maybe they could have trapped all of them and moved them but hey what do I know?! They probably would have found their way back.

I'd let it go. The notoreity should die down quickly.


And I'd call the police again if a cow hoof appears on your doorstep.......bleah......

 

[Moosysmom]

Ann,
You didn't sound bad in the article.
I would advise either the Editor or the reporter tho' that the person quoted was way off base.
Also, I do agree that the cow hoof should be reported to the police.
Good luck with everything, you did the right thing.

 

[suzannen]

Ann,
You absolutely did the right thing and I also don't see the article as showing you in any way but concerned - you notified the police that you were worried for your family. I would have done exactly the same thing.

Whichever neighbor left you that little "gift" is more troubling. I agree with others that I would at least report it so it's on record.

I hope all of this blows over soon and is "yesterday's news" pronto. Hang in there!

 

[piratesmate]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
I did take pictures of it and might tell the cops if someting else happens .......

I don't want to be a pain by repeating myself, but I really think you shoud report it as an FYI. If you don't, a 2nd incident would be viewed as the 1st. The police can't take it into account if things would escalate.

 

[AnnMorin]

how does this sound?

To the editor,
I was not going to respond to the article published regarding the fox destroyed on my property. However, due to overwhelming positive response from people in the neighborhood, and in general I do feel a need to clarify a few items.
First of all my husband and I chose to not participate in the article because we did not feel a need to be inflammatory towards our neighbors or a need to defend ourselves for calling the police.
However, several untruths were published so I do feel the need to set the record straight. Apparently before quotes were published no one did any background checks or fact verification.
One of the individuals who found it “cruel” the fox was destroyed has a husband who is an avid hunter. The animal who held us captive was put down for necessity not for sport. Her hypocrisy should have been detected before the piece was published. Also the kitts were born in March (in my back yard- there were five) and by June they were full-grown. The fox that was shot was not 4-5 pounds but larger.
As to the other individual, there is no possible way (and if the reporter had actually come to Nicole Circle she would have seen this) that from his back yard he could see into the woods (or even heard for that matter) a fox being destroyed. I made sure that my own son went in the house when it had to be done and wanted no child to have to witness that. No child did.
When I approached the neighbors to warn them (which was a week before the shooting-not the day before, on record there are several calls to the police and environmental police over a two week period) I told them I was concerned for their children. That this one fox had become very aggressive. At that time no one disagreed with me.
This was a sad and unfortunate thing, and I can only surmise that the fox became aggressive either because it was rabid or someone was feeding it. No one in my family wanted the foxes to be destroyed. Of the five kitts only one became aggressive (to the point it would walk on or deck when we were eating and snarl and attempt to make us leave) the aggressive behavior happened only over a two week period but it did make us prisoners in our home. The neighbors may have enjoyed the other kitts but the one that would not leave our yard was becoming quite terrifying. We personally do not own a gun and never would imagine harming an animal. However, we are so thankful for the Police as we can finally walk outside without fear.
Ann Morin

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
However, several untruths were published so I do feel the need to set the record straight. Apparently before quotes were published no one did any background checks or fact verification.

OK, you asked for input... Please, um... I would re-phrase this. Reporters tend to get defensive at slights, and, well, there's only so much background checking a reporter can do. We can only call so many people, and if others don't want to talk to us, we can't force them. Specifically....

Originally posted by AnnMorin
One of the individuals who found it “cruel” the fox was destroyed has a husband who is an avid hunter. {SNIP} Her hypocrisy should have been detected before the piece was published.

How would the reporter know this? The neighbor obviously didn't tell her, and it's not a question I would generally ask, and I certainly wouldn't be running around checking hunting licenses. Please, please don't take offense, but if you had talked to the reporter, and mentioned this, then she would have known. The neighbor wasn't just going to offer up that info.

Originally posted by AnnMorin
Also the kitts were born in March (in my back yard- there were five) and by June they were full-grown. The fox that was shot was not 4-5 pounds but larger.

I agree -- there should have been info from the cop about this.

Originally posted by AnnMorin
As to the other individual, there is no possible way (and if the reporter had actually come to Nicole Circle she would have seen this) that from his back yard he could see into the woods (or even heard for that matter) a fox being destroyed.

The heck? They didn't even send out a photographer to get a shot of the kitts? Weird. But, again, gunshots can carry, and even seeing the location doesn't prove to the reporter that others couldn't hear it. See it, yes, but hear it? Not unless the reporter starts shooting a gun and asking the neighbors if they heard it.

Originally posted by AnnMorin
I made sure that my own son went in the house when it had to be done and wanted no child to have to witness that. No child did.

Again, the neighbor said his kid heard it. How can a reporter disprove that? Your quote above (taking your kid inside) would have helped, but you still can't prove the other kid didn't hear ANYTHING.

 

[AnnMorin]

I know I am feeling defensive and that is why I want to know what the right thing to write it. You are right that the reporter would have no idea what was going on .. but these people are just plain lying. can you pm me with a better way to address this/

 

[katerkat]

Sure -- I'll work on it. I know you're defensive, I'm just... Well, we reporters tend to mumble mean things about people when we get letters... We're horrible people, you know! LOL!

 

[AnnMorin]

I know it is not her fault..............
This is just making me sick ...especially the lie about children being exposed. I teach preschool and love kids (it was so nice several of my kids parents called today mad at the story knowing how much we cared about the foxes.. I made posters for school etc.)

 

[AnnMorin]

And you are right the poor reporter had no idea she was being lied to it is not fair to lash out at her....


here is my newest letter....

To the editor,
I was not going to respond to the article published regarding the fox destroyed on my property. However, due to overwhelming positive response from people in the neighborhood, and in general, I do feel a need to clarify a few items.
First of all my husband and I chose to not participate in the article because we did not feel a need to be inflammatory towards our neighbors, or a need to defend ourselves for calling the police.
However, several untruths were published so I do feel the need to set the record straight. One of the individuals who found it “cruel” the fox was destroyed has a husband who is an avid hunter. The animal who held us captive was put down for necessity, not for sport. Her hypocrisy I find very curious. Also the kitts were born in March (in my back yard- there were five) and by June they were full-grown. The fox that was shot was not 4-5 pounds but much larger!
As to the other individual, there is no possible way that from his back yard he could see into my woods a fox being destroyed. I made sure that my own son went in the house when it had to be done, and wanted no child to have to witness that. No child did! That statement is a blatant lie.
When I approached the neighbors to warn them (which was a week before the shooting-not the day before, it is all on record, are several calls to the police and environmental police over a two week period) I told them I was concerned for their children. That this one fox had become very aggressive. At that time no one disagreed with me.
This was a sad and unfortunate thing, and I can only surmise that the fox became aggressive either because it was rabid or someone was feeding it. No one in my family wanted the foxes to be destroyed. Sadly for one it became a necessity.
Ann Morin



how does that sound?

 

[katerkat]

It's too long to PM, so...

What I would delete is italicized, what I would change is bold. In general, statements, rather than accusations, go over easier. I also changed some minor sentence structure - dashes and commas instead of () in most places. If any of my changes are wrong, please correct them!

To the editor,
I was not going to respond to the article published regarding the fox destroyed on my property. However, due to overwhelming positive response from people in the neighborhood, and in general I do feel a need to clarify a few items.

First of all my husband and I chose to not participate in the article because we did not feel a need to be inflammatory towards our neighbors or a need to defend ourselves for calling the police.
However, several untruths were published so I do feel the need to set the record straight. Apparently before quotes were published no one did any background checks or fact verification.

One of the individuals who found it “cruel” the fox was destroyed has a husband who is an avid hunter. The animal who held us captive was put down out of necessity, not for sport. Her hypocrisy should have been detected before the piece was published. {{I think it's enough to say he is an avid hunter. The readers get the point that he's complaining about you killing while he obviously kills as well...}}

Also the kitts were born in March (in my back yard- there were five) and by June they were full-grown. The fox that was shot was not 4-5 pounds but larger.

As to the other individual, there is no possible way that from his back yard he could see into the woods (or even heard for that matter) a fox being destroyed. If the reporter had actually come to Nicole Circle she would have seen the distance from the woods to the nearby houses.

I made sure that my own son went in the house when it had to be done and wanted no child to have to witness that. No child did.

I had made several calls about the fox to the police and environmental police over a two week period. When I approached the neighbors to warn them - a week before the shooting, not the day before - I told them I was concerned for their children because this one fox had become very aggressive. At that time no one disagreed with me.

This was a sad and unfortunate thing, and I can only surmise that the fox became aggressive either because it was rabid or someone was feeding it. No one in my family wanted the foxes to be destroyed. Of the five kitts, only one became aggressive to the point it would walk on or deck when we were eating and snarl and attempt to make us leave. The aggressive behavior happened only over a two week period but it did make us prisoners in our home. The neighbors may have enjoyed the other kitts but the one that would not leave our yard was becoming quite terrifying. We personally do not own a gun and never would imagine harming an animal. However, we are so thankful for the Police as we can finally walk outside without fear.
Ann Morin

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
NO, you don't sound horrible, THOSE idiots do.

Exactly!!!!

I must have missed your story, but from that article, I totally agree with you. Top priority has to be the safety of people in the neighborhood...this coming from someone who has had a run in with a fox during early morning jogs. People shouldnt have to live in fear.

 

[AnnMorin]

I am cutting and pasting it sounds just rightQ

 

[katerkat]

NP, Ann!

I just tried to read it from the reporter's perspective - since you didn't talk to her, she had to get "your" side from the police, and often the police isn't so helpful. So be kind to her, be mean to the bad neighbors.

Hope it works out OK!

 

[AnnMorin]

I did it exactly like you said. It certainly is not her fault but I really feel like people need to know that what he said is not true! thanks again for your insight!