Cooper City residents are seeking justice and demanding action after an alarming incident left over 30 geese dead in late December, around 7:45 p.m. near Southwest 49th Street and Southwest 120th Avenue. Surveillance footage captured a group of young adults in ATVs running over the geese in an event that has outraged the local community. The Broward Sheriff’s Office is engaged in the investigation, having released the video earlier in January with the hope of identifying the individuals involved. This information was disclosed by WSVN.
During a Cooper City Commission Meeting, which occurred yesterday night, residents expressed their concerns, stressing that the response to the incident has not been adequate. Tensions evident, the community is pushing to not merely speak out against such violence, but to actively implement measures strictly to prevent such occurrences in the future. "What happened, I can’t even begin to address because there are no words to speak to this kind of atrocity," a citizen disclosed in a statement obtained by WSVN, mirroring the collective sentiment.
Residents came forward with suggestions to curb the rampant use of motorized vehicles that pose a threat to wildlife and the serenity of the area. Proposals included fencing off certain areas to restrict ATV access and Commissioner Jeremy Katzman also proposed a ban on off-road vehicles in the affected zone. A reward increase is being considered to encourage public assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Captain Christopher De Giovanni from the Broward Sheriff’s Office emphasized the need for communal aid saying, "We need the public’s help, just like in any type of case. We are on the side of the public, and we need the public’s help," in an interview with WSVN.
In a show of solidarity, animal advocates additionally voiced their plans to attend future commission meetings to insist on action regarding these unsettling killings. Although the issue wasn't officially listed in the upcoming meeting's agenda, advocates prepared to speak during the public information segment, as reported by Local10.
Community members, while distraught, hold onto a firm hope for decisive actions to be taken swiftly within the next two months. "Tonight’s the first night that I really felt my concern taken seriously throughout all the commissioners as well as the sheriff’s office you know, speaking about the incident," stated Brian Schafler, who recorded the initial video of the dead geese, to WSVN. The community's call for justice and protection of their non-human residents remains strong as the investigation continues.
