Protect The Harvest | Colorado Governor Polis’ Candidate Selections Have Animal Extremist Backgrounds

Polis’ CDA Taps Wolf Advocate with Anti-agriculture Ties to Lead Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection

Article by Rachel Gabel – The Fence Post

February 8 , 2022

“The Bureau of Animal Protection has a new director, selected from a pool of candidates that included two animal rights attorneys and a wolf introduction and “humane food choice proponent.”

The final choice to lead the bureau, announced today by Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg, is Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Niemiec (pronounced “Knee-Mick”) an assistant professor in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University and the director of the Conservation Action Lab.

The BAP’s published mission reads, “The protection of companion animals and livestock is a matter of statewide concern. Therefore, it is the mission of the Bureau of Animal Protection to administer and enforce the provisions of the Animal Protection Act to prevent the neglect, mistreatment, or abuse of animals in Colorado.”

The BAP falls under the umbrella of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, but open records requests by The Fence Post indicate governor Jared Polis had a strong influence in the final selection.

Deputy ag commissioner Steve Silverman and his selection panel put forward four applicants to move forward in the interview process as finalists. Those included a Colorado county animal control supervisor with BAP experience,