Satire / PETAA - People for the Ethical Treatment of All Animals
Stop the Cruel Trapping of Mice

By Mickey Mouselover
July 2001

What would happen if someone in Newton sold a trap which was intended to electrocute a neighbor's cat?

We'd all be outraged, as we should be.

So, how can we sit still while they're selling a trap which does that to mice and rats? Are we so casual about this just because they're small animals? But isn't that a reason to protect them even more? After all, they are truly defenseless.

In case you think I'm making this up, they are now selling something called a Rat Zapper. The advertisement is so gross. "When a rat or mouse steps on the kill plate, ZAP!" They say it's, "Safe around kids or pets." How can they possibly be so blind? Don't they know that many of us have mice as pets? It certainly wouldn't be safe for my pets!

They carry on with testimonials from purchasers of their cruel device. The one that really hurt was from a store owner in Boston. "'Eight mice the very first day!' - Rick, Pet Store Owner, Boston."

I don't believe for a moment that any pet store owner in Boston said that. Maybe one out in the country, like Weston or Lincoln, where they don't know any better.

What a depressing note to start on, but I'm hoping someone can tell us how we can put that company out of business.

I'd like to thank you for the many kind notes you've sent about our new organization to protect the small animals of the world. Even Mayor Cohen has sent his best regards. He agrees that Newton is the place to start this organization, because there's no place on earth that's more tolerant of the little guy than Newton.

Don't forget that you can make a difference in making the world safer for all animals, not just the big ones.

Until next month, your friend, Mickey.