Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/140592
Sarasota News Leader June 28, 2013 leave inadequate bird enclosures." He's also concerned about the decision to euthanize birds more quickly. Fox says that during her tenure, severely injured birds were given up to five days to show signs of improvement before SOS would euthanize them. That patience is now gone, according to Para: "They're putting down anything that needs more work." The FAQ acknowledges that putting down birds is taking place, but defends the SOS process: "Anyone who has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation knows that euthanasia is sometimes necessary, for two reasons. First and foremost, if a bird is suffering and there is no reasonable way to alleviate that suffering, the bird should not be forced to live in pain. Second, the regulations on which our permits are based are very strict and very clear about what birds should be kept alive and what birds should not. Lee Fox routinely ignored those regulations, but we are determined to comply." Page 12 A Florida Fish and Wildlife representative says transferring a permit to another name is usually "a pretty easy process," but that it does require proof of experience, letters of recommendation and even an inspection. She couldn't answer definitively whether there is a deadline for when an organization must apply to have the permit transferred. The goal of Saturday's rally, which kicks off at 10 a.m. outside SOS, is to bring attention to all these matters, Para says, and — he hopes — to force the organization to either bring back Fox or to hire someone else equally qualified. The SOS FAQ says Fox has "caused so much irreparable harm to SOS" through her "false statements to the press and others that a return to SOS is out of the question." Para recently spoke at a meeting of Florida Veterans for Common Sense, discussing the "healing" he experienced at SOS and asking the group for support. The anti-war veterans group sent out an email alert about the rally, as well as Para's appearance at the commission Monday, encouraging veterans to support his cause. Para says the euthanasia debate is part of a bigger dispute: The process may be up to code, but the organization lacks someone with the qualifications necessary to make those life-and-death decisions. "They need to bring somebody on staff who knows what's going Para says many volunteers feel the way he on," he points out. does, even some who believe "any care is betPilston confirms that SOS permits were held ter than no care" and have remained working in Fox's name, but he says that the Florida at SOS. The goal of the rally is not to harm the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission organization, but to strengthen and refocus it, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allow he notes: "In no way do we want them to go for a "grace period" when a permit-holder away or go out of business." leaves a rehab operation. He tells the News Leader that SOS received word this week that Asked about the rally, Fox is hesitant. "I'm not its new application for a permit has been rec- sure how it's going to turn out," she says. "I know there's going to be a lot of people." % ommended for approval.