zoos and so on

[celtic-womble]

I'm having an ethical dilemma. I don't want to give money to forms of entertainment that use animals. At the same time I'd like DS to have the opportunity to see the animals, learn about them and learn about why they shouldn't be kept locked up. What do we think about using passes from the library to get in for free? We can get passes for the aquarium and the zoo from ours.

[Erin Pavlina]

I actually discuss this situation quite extensively in my book, Raising Vegan Children (http://www.vegfamily.com/raising-vegan-children/index.php?src=forums).

We've taken our daughter to the zoo one time. She was about 3 years old. Both my husband and I felt so sad for the animals that we saw there that we decided never to go again. If our daughter someday decides she wants to go or has a field trip, we will probably let her go but we will carefully explain how we feel about it.

We have visited a few aquariums with the kids, which I felt weren't quite as bad as the zoos. But each time we explained to the kids that the animals would much prefer to be free and we needed to honor the fact that they were essentially being forced to live in a much smaller environment to amuse us. It's tough because we want her to be able to see and even interact with the animals but we don't want to support abuse.

Paying or using a coupon won't change the situation much either way. Giving the zoo money will at least help them feed the animals. You're "supporting" the zoo concept just by being there, whether you paid to get in or not.

[kjmckenzie]

you can find great wildlife animal hospitals/sanctuaries to go and visit. They rehabilitate hurt and sick animals and those that can't go back into the wild, they keep for education purposes. They generally have better living conditions than zoos. I would never set foot in a zoo again, but I have no problem with wildlife sanctuaries. They also have lots of learning opportunities and volunteer positions.

Also, we recently went to Animal Kingdom at Disney and it was much better than any zoo. Disney tends to do things well. Most of their African animals were in a very natural to them setting and had lots of room. None of the animals are in cages or behind bars.

[Roses]

We live close to a Big Cat rescue "zoo". You can go and see the cats (they also have a bear I think), all have been rescued, and they go here for refuge, it's great. I really would have a hard time going to a regular zoo again.

[Jergisen]

We go to the zoo all the time. My kids absolutely love to go and see the animals. I have told them that they don't belong there.

I absolutely refuse the circus concept. My kids will NEVER go to a circus.

[mamaoftofuboy]

My husband and I felt strongly that we would not do the zoo when our son was older, but then we went and got a membership. We actually don't go that often and I don't think that we will get another membership when this one expires.

I struggle so much with this because my son loves to see the animals and we try to extend his learning about them when we are at home. and we explain where they live naturally and how they live and what they eat. We try to get books from the library and see more animals on the internet. I try to embrace the zoo when we are there and stop at the animals and really talk about them instead of just walking by and hardly noticing them. I don't like the zoo when they encourage mating or keep the animals in small cages. it is so sad.

This summer we will be going to a local farm sanctuary and I can't wait to see how my son likes it. It is a tough thing as a stay at home parent because there are other things at our zoo that our son loves to do like ride the train. Why can't there be a train in the park? :)

[annie7]

We have an animal sanctuary about an hour from here that is home to retired/rescued circus animals and some native wildlife that have been injured/rehabilitated, etc. For the most part that's what we do. However, when we do choose a "zoo" to visit, we usually go to one that houses animals that have been injured too badly to be released to the wild, and the habitats are huge and very sincere. Not the cramped sparse bare ground types. I see no purpose nor anything helpful from those places...not for the animal OR the public's education.

[veganloraine]

my son has a kindergarten field trip next friday to attend an outdoor educational centre and see some spring lambs. i had to tell him that he won't be attending the trip as the lambs there aren't safe - that when they grow up their fleece will be used for wool and their bodies will be used for meat and we don't want to give the people who run the centre the impression that we find this acceptable. so we've planned an alternate day of fun, which will be taking a picnic lunch and hitting all the playgrounds in our town. and we'll be going to Farm Sanctuary's New York shelter this May so he can see some sheep there, although probably no lambs - however, they did just rescue a very adorable piglet!

[pghvegan]

i was torn on the zoo issue, myself.

our DD is an infant, but we want to expose her to animals. we have a gift membership to our zoo. part of me is saying, "don't you dare set foot in that zoo." but the other (larger) part of me is saying, "what a way to teach her to love animals and understand why some people are opposed to zoos."

there used to be a farm sanctuary in our vicinity, but it closed due to funding issues. that would have been a wonderful way to teach her about farm animals.

i don't think there is a right or wrong decision in this matter. it's what you feel comfortable doing. what works for one vegan family, may not work for another.


~stephy

[hmcolson]

My reply comes late to the "what about zoos & such" discussion but I just joined. I'm vegan b/c I'm an animal rights activist. My son has been to many circuses & the zoo several times- to PROTEST! When he is old enough to understand I will walk him through the zoo to show him how horrible it is & reinforce why we must continue to fight for the rights of captive animals. It's not o.k. to visit zoos, circuses, aquariums etc. for "fun." No matter how nice the place may look if the animals had a choice they wouldn't be there. No zoo can even come close to an animals' natural habitat. Animals are shipped around with no regard for the social bonds they've made (if they've even been allowed to make them), they're separated from their mothers- babies bring in many visitors= a lot more money. Animals are physically & emotionally abused. And in response to Krista's post- Disney's Animal Kingdom is actually first on PETA's "deadly destinations" for animals- 31 animals under their "care" died before the park even opened- their violations of the Animal Welfare Act continue to grow. Disney's animal care track record is dismal (that includes their movies & theme parks). We should teach our children that our entertainment isn't more important than the well-being of animals. Teach them that it's wrong to exploit animals for $ & "entertainment." Instead visit sanctuaries & animal shelters- teach kids compassion. True conservation is protecting habitat in the wild and protecting animals from poaching- not breeding animals in zoos. It's not necessary to see animals in person to care about them- I went to the zoo as a child on field trips but I don't remember any of the trips b/c I was young yet I'm now a vegan & animal activist.

[kjmckenzie]

Thanks for the info about Disney hmcolson! I obviously never looked into information about Animal Kingdom or their treatment of animals in the movies for which I apologize and thank you for clarifying. We do support animal sanctuaries and avoid the zoo, circuses, aquariums and animal movies. I will have to get over to Peta's website soon, it has been too long!

[veganloraine]

on the weekend we drove for an hour and a half to Donkey Sanctuary and had a fabulous time. certainly there must be other sanctuaries and shelters like these around the map that we don't need to give our children the opportunity to interact with animals under such oppressive conditions as at a petting zoo or marine park.

side note: on the way back from the sanctuary a woman who travelled with us stated that a local zoo that she recently visited didn't seem too bad as each animal had water and shelter from the sun. it was odd that she didn't realize that animals are more than their bodies and require so much more than a barren 12 x 12 enclosure that provided partial shade.