MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY JOINS COMMITTEE TO RESTORE THE DOVE HUNTING BAN

(Detroit) -- The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) announces that its Board of Directors has unanimously voted to become a Charter Member Organization in "The Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban."  This committee is leading the statewide voter referendum petition drive to place a repeal of the new state dove hunting law on the November 2006 ballot.

Upon making this announcement, Cal Morgan, Executive Director of the Michigan Humane Society noted that, "The Michigan Humane Society has a 20-year history of leading the state fight against mourning dove hunting in Michigan.  For nearly a century, these gentle songbirds have been a protected species in our state, which is their breeding ground.  We also have a state law that designates them as Michigan's official symbol bird of peace.  Through statewide public opinion surveys, the vast majority of Michiganians, including hunters, have repeatedly expressed their strong opposition to dove hunting." 

The Chairman of the MHS Board of Directors, Bob Weiland, emphasized that, "The Michigan Humane Society has many supporters who are hunters.  Ethical hunters do not support making small songbirds into living targets just for the pleasure of trying to shoot them.  Nor do they support putting voluminous amounts of lead shot on farm fields to cause pollution as well as the poisoning of non-target species."  

Citizens who wish to sign or circulate petitions to put this repeal on the 2006 ballot can contact the Michigan Humane Society administrative office at 1-866-MHUMANE, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The Committee to Restore the Dove Shooting Ban, headquartered in Lansing, can be reached at (517) 321-DOVE or by email at contact@stopshootingdoves.org.  For more information, visit the Committee web site at   www.stopshootingdoves.org.

The Michigan Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the animals since 1877