The GuZoo has been closed.
If you're not from Alberta, that statement may seem like nonsense. You may be wondering if I just can't spell "kazoo" and have melted wax paper to my pseudo musical instrument.
I'm not going to lie - you may be correct as well, but what I'm referring to is a privately-run "zoo" in Three Hills, Alberta. You can read two disparate opinions on the zoo's closure here and here.
For 20-some years, the GuZoo offered a smaller alternative to the internationally-known Calgary Zoo, making interaction with exotic animals available to some who otherwise might not have had the opportunity. Unfortunately, this wasn't done either professionally or with the best interests of the animals in mind.
Let me state right off the bat that I am in many ways a typical Albertan - I love Alberta beef, I've been known to enjoy some moose, elk, or deer meat on occasion, and I am proud of where I'm from. Being a disgusting meat-eater, some might think I could care less about animal welfare, but this is simply not true. I have had pets my entire life and was raised to respect these animals and to care for them as I would any other member of the family. Senseless slaughter and uncaring behaviour towards animals sickens me.
So yes, I was disgusted by the state of GuZoo. Animals kept in cages several sizes too small, filthy eating and water areas, carcasses strewn about, and domesticated and exotic animals sharing spaces, which leads to all sorts of diseases. Sick animals not quarantined, etc.
Even if we put aside the "wacky" thoughts of animal welfare, what sort of an impact does an environment like that have on children who are learning about exotic animals through the GuZoo? What kind of ability to nurture and care for a domesticated pet will these children have if their only exposure to the humane treatment of animals seems to indicate that animals don't require any space, or anyone to clean up after them, or access to clean water and sanitary food?
I assume the parents would step in at this point and educate their children as to how to properly care for animals. But when you're a kid... who will you believe more? Mom and dad who are just now letting you get a puppy or a kitty or a hamster when all your friends have had pets forever-ever? Or the "kindly" old gentleman who looks after, like, lions and tigers and bears and all the cool stuff? And he does it for, like, his job?!?!
So vet checks seem to indicate that the animals were not in poor health. (we'll just ignore the plethora of photos that seem to indicate otherwise)
So smaller zoos seem to be targeted by bigger zoos and associations when it comes to not knowing how to handle the paperwork. (we'll just ignore the fact that in literally any other business, not knowing how to maintain legal paperwork is not a viable excuse for any infraction whatsoever.)
So the GuZoo has been an institution for 20-some years and it's just now being closed down. (we'll just ignore the fact that complaints have been raised about the welfare of these animals for years and that bureaucratic red tape may have had something to do with the length of time required to review.)
Levant's view (first linked article) seems to be that GuZoo is being picked on and nickle-and-dimed for not handling their paperwork correctly. You know who else was picked on for not handling his paperwork correctly? Al freaking Capone.
Is Lynn Gustafson the same as Al Capone? Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. But sometimes, in the end, the "bad guys" are brought down by something small like paperwork. We might not see justice for the animals who have suffered for years in unhealthy and dangerous confinement, but we can rest somewhat easier knowing that no more animals will be subjected to life in this zoo.
Hey, private zoos are awesome. They can provide education and interaction in areas that might otherwise not receive it. They do not, however, have access to the same resources as the large zoos (such as in Calgary). For this, they do not pay dues into CAZA or similar organizations. It's a fine line they're straddling - balancing "going it alone" and knowing that the bigger fish fully have the right to pop in and make sure things are going the way they should.
Rather than bitching about how the little guys are being trampled on, maybe we should consider the welfare of the animals and of the businesses - because that's what these zoos are - and take a looksie into the possibility of providing pro bono resources to those who are trying to bring the delightfulness of a zoo to those places where it's not feasible to have an institution like the Calgary or San Diego Zoos.
Lynn Gustafson may have "poured his heart — and over a million dollars of his own money —" into the GuZoo, but what's that they say about the road to hell? A little education and more concern for animal welfare would have gone a long way to keeping the GuZoo open. I could pour my heart and over a million dollars of my own money into a day care facility, but if all I'm doing is keeping the children in their own filth for 24 hours every day, providing them with tainted water and three-week-old food "carcasses," my good intentions don't beg public support in the slightest.
This is not a matter of a big ugly corporation squishing the little competitors. This is a matter of someone with no training and no interest in training endangering the lives not only of his own animals on display but also of any visitor to his "zoo," being shut down by the authorities.
UPDATE JULY 13, 2011. The GuZoo was re-opened last week. One can only hope that the animals are being cared for in a better manner - cared for, full-stop - and that the Gustafsons use the experience to maintain standards in the care and health of the animals and the mainenance of required paperword.
