Comments on: Awesome Zoo Alternatives For Vegan Children! #2 – Animal Sanctuaries

By: Meg M

Meg M — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 17:41:00 +0000

I’m sure you’ve heard, or perhaps you haven’t, but the LA city council just banned the use of bullhooks on elephants in the city. This will apply to any circuses that may come to town. I know circuses are often guilty of animal mistreatment, but this could be a step in the right direction.

By: Mélanie

Mélanie — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 01:08:00 +0000

Thanks for this Sayward. I’ve taken my kids to the zoo twice, years ago before I was vegan and it left a bad taste in my mouth both times. I felt horrible. We’ve since become more aware of animal welfare and have become vegan. Now, my kids don’t really ask to go because they feel bad for the animals. Thanks for this awesome suggestion, I ‘ve looked up animal sanctuaries in our area. We also have a reptile rescue centre type of thing that the kids love.
It’s still hard, I find, to be that parent, the one who won’t take her kids to the zoo.

By: katta

katta — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 10:57:00 +0000

Beautiful post, awesome pictures! We love the animal sanctuary here (http://www.edgarsmission.org.au/ ) the passion and dedication of the people running it is inspiring. I also agree, it is really confronting when you stop and realise that these animals are in the minority, that normal for most farm animals is something incomprehensible. I wonder how we got here as a society. Thanks again for your generosity in posting of yourself.

By: katta

katta — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 10:54:00 +0000

I love our local zoo (Im in Australia) and most of the animals are in amazing, spacious (ok not open plains but we got one of those zoos too!) enclosures with most of the area hidden from view. But there are a few solo animals in older spaces that always look so distressed and sad that it breaks my heart. I tend to avoid those areas (as do other locals – an actually the zoo seems to have routed the paths away from them). I’m looking forward to the sound of your article.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 03:51:00 +0000

I just took my kids to a farm sanctuary in the area. It was a wonderful experience.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 02:36:00 +0000

Actually, most major zoos are non-profits, so I think that needs to be made clear. San Diego, Philadelphia, Audubon, Phoenix, Columbus, Indianapolis, Woodland Park, Houston, Cinncinnati, Fort Worth, Brookfield, Lowry Park and San Antonio Zoos for example are all not for profit institutions among many others. Also, PLEASE please please don’t lump small petting zoos into the same category. Very different things.

I am also having a hard time with the statement that “a traditional zoo or petting zoo is a place that exists for human entertainment, and animals happen to live there”. This is merely your opinion and shouldn’t be stated as fact. Knowing such an institution as well as I do, I have to completely disagree with this. It’s just so far from the actual truth.

That piece I promised you is finished- I am sorry it took so long. I am now just waiting on my other vegan zookeeper friend to return from out of town to edit it for me.

One last note… in your last post on zoos you mentioned natural history museums as an alternative. But did you know that the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in DC is largely filled with animals that were killed by a trophy hunter?

By: Jim Corcoran

Jim Corcoran — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 21:49:00 +0000

Awesome for ALL children!

By: Sarah C.

Sarah C. — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 15:04:00 +0000

Great points. I think the profit motive is an important one and it’s colored my thinking about various zoos (I just implicitly trust non-profit ones and distrust for-profit ones). And on a different note, my little girl LOVES tractors!

By: Imogen Michel

Imogen Michel — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:42:00 +0000

Thanks for such a great explanation of the important differences between zoos and sanctuaries. Finding a sanctuary to visit near me is on my to-do list!

By: Monika {windycityvegan}

Monika {windycityvegan} — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:57:00 +0000

So much love for this post. The farmed animal refuge I work with is having its first big fundraiser this weekend! Gary Loewenthal is our keynote speaker Nina will get to meet him at a private brunch on Sunday and I am so excited for her. And okay, a little bit excited for me, too. :D