HILL: Cats, ducks and puppy dogs

Baby ducks dripping in black crude oil became a potent political symbol for her because it was easily understood

An oil soaked bird is examined on an island in Prince William Sound, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. (Jack Smith / AP Photo)

Why does anyone doubt claims by pet owners in Springfield, Ohio, who say their cats, ducks and dogs are being eaten by people who have entered the U.S. illegally?

Why would the average citizen talk about little Fifi being fricasseed in a public park unless it was true? It is hard to believe any political strategist could come up with a hoax involving pet kidnapping and backyard barbecuing to gain some sort of political advantage, if there is one.

There is a reason liberal news media outlets have been downplaying and pooh-poohing such claims. They know if these claims are proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, the average American voter will understand the dangers illegal immigration poses to the average citizen far better than if Republicans and Fox News keep throwing numbers around like “10 million” or “20 million” immigrants who have crossed the border illegally since 2021 when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office.

When the Exxon Valdez spilled 31 million gallons of oil in Prince William Sound in Alaska in 1989, the environmental damage was bad but far removed from the daily lives of 99.8% of all Americans. It was only when news media started showing videos and pictures of baby ducks drowning to death in the black goo that the average American became incensed by the accidental spill and demanded action from their political leaders.

We had a neighbor in Northern Virginia who cried every night watching baby ducks trapped in Exxon Valdez oil for the next year. Baby ducks dripping in black crude oil became a potent political symbol for her because it was easily understood ― Big Oil kills baby ducks and, therefore, must be stopped.

The same thing has not happened with the porous defense of U.S. borders under Biden and Harris. Anyone watching CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS or NBC News has no idea of the amount of crime or financial stress illegal immigration has caused to municipalities — because they have not covered the invasion at all.

However, if it is confirmed pets are being eaten by immigrants in Ohio, even the most liberal of all voters who are PETA supporters will instantly understand that something is seriously, seriously wrong about Harris’ border policies and maybe not vote for her after all.

The graphics of a pet being grilled over an open fire far outweigh the impact of any debate or policy paper statement by any candidate.

There have been posts floating around on social media with video and audio evidence for quite some time. On March 12, 2024, a Springfield resident was filmed at a town council meeting in which he said: “One of the things I’ve heard that bothered me very much — I’ve actually had quite a few people contact me here lately — some pretty horrid things occurring to domesticated animals in the neighborhood. We’ve had some stuff in the park.”

Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck can be heard in the background saying: “I’ve heard about it too.”

Debate moderator David Muir of ABC News said he contacted Heck’s office before repeatedly interrupting President Donald Trump during the debate to “fact-check” him in real time.

ABC News and Fox News should go to Springfield to host a town hall meeting and invite anyone who has video, audio or physical evidence of their pet being stolen and subsequently eaten to speak in a marathon open mic session.

If no one shows up to speak, then ABC and the naysayers will be proven correct and Trump and all the Republicans will be proven wrong, much to their delirious delight.

If people show up in droves to speak with evidence, then the mainstream media and liberal talking heads will be proven to have lied and hidden the truth once again from the American people and deserve all the ridicule that will be hurled at them.

Americans have no problem with immigration ― as long as it is legal and conducted in a measured, proper manner. Roughly 1 million foreign-born people were awarded naturalized citizenship status annually in the decades before Joe Biden was elected in 2020. Each new American citizen had to pass rigorous background checking and vetting as they waited their turn in the normal immigration process.

Virtually every naturalized citizen before 2020 knew far more about the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution than the average American high school student. American public and private schools have punted civics out of the classroom ― perhaps every high school student should be forced to take the naturalization exam in order to graduate.

Anyone coming to America needs to understand they cannot mess with, touch, take or eat anyone’s personal pet. Not even a goldfish ― every pet means something very special to every owner, so leave them alone.