I am outraged at the senseless killing of the alligator found in Rhea County. This poor creature hadn't done anything wrong. It had not "attacked" anyone or anything. It was just trying to live its life.
I understand that the animal needed to be relocated, but why did it have to be killed? There are several local agencies that may have been willing to take the animal in. The Chattanooga Zoo, The Aquarium, The Knoxville Zoo, were any of these agencies contacted, or did the TWRA people just panic and react with violence?
There are many questions and no good answers and now an innocent animal has lost its life. It is a sad situation.
Michele Chattin
Harrison
Nscr3girl@aol.com
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I am not one to write opinion letters to the newspaper, but I wholeheartedly agree with Michele Chattin.
I understand that the TWRA officer didn't want the alligator to get back in the water, but couldn't he or she have been tranquilized? And then, as Ms. Chattin suggests, contact the many agencies in the area to see if they could accommodate the reptile.
Michelle Thompson
rmthompson@peoplepc.com
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Ms. Chattin,
I just read your opinion column and you quote, "I am outraged at the senseless killing of the alligator found in Rhea County."
Are you joking? I am thrilled that the animal was killed. My family swims in that same water and I want them to be safe. Obviously you are not around water much.
I have not spoken to one person that is angry. Thank you TWRA, I hope this was the last one, but don't stop looking. If any of us find one, we will call immediately.
Mary Phillips
familyboaters@hotmail.com