PETA Responds To Video Of Dog Killing Rats

PETA has viewed the video of Washington Square Parks' Rat Killer and NYC The Blog spoke to Martin Mersereau, Director, Emergency Response Division at PETA, on the telephone. As reported by Gothamist, Phil Abramson, a New York City Parks Department spokesman, said: "I’m not familiar with any regulations about killing rats." Martin says their most certainly are, and sent a statement to NYC The Blog:

Setting dogs upon rats is depraved, sadistic, and entirely illegal. It constitutes an explicit violation of New York’s anti-cruelty laws...

UPDATED: Caught On Tape: Washington Square Park's Rat Killer, Not To Be Confused With Washington Square Park's Squirrel Killer

New York City has a rat problem; this has been well documented. So would anyone care if an unleashed dog stalked and killed the rats of Washington Square Park slowly and painfully? Unlike the recent squirrel maulings in Washington Square Park reported by Animal Tourism—and resulting determined enforcement of leash laws by Parks Enforcement officers—rats might not warrant the same concern. Which is too bad for the multitude frenziedly killed by the dog at left.

Piano Music In Washington Square Park

People are talking about "Street Pianos," a public art project coming to New York City this summer. The project is officially called Play Me, I'm Yours, and will distribute 60 pianos across the city in varying locations, from June 21 to July 5. The pianos will be available for anyone to play.

In a similar yet more limited public music project, it should be noted that Colin Huggins has been playing his piano in public for a couple of years now, in subway stations, parks, and anywhere else he can roll it. Yes, that's right, roll it. Huggins keeps a few pianos in storage units around Manhattan, rolling them down, or up, city streets to one of his favored playing spots.

NYC The Blog spotted him in Washington Square Park a couple of Saturdays ago, and he informed us he intends to continue playing there each Saturday, weather permitting. True to his word, he was spotted there this past Saturday; the requisite Twitpic confirms.

Watch video of Colin and his piano in Washington Square Park, enjoyed by park users and the NYPD...