I have been haunted by the passing of my Precious Friend Wakoda (male Navajo Churro Sheep). I still can not bring myself to write a memorial post, but when I do, I'm feeling like that may be it for a long while, if not ever.
The Zoo exhausts me, and it seems like there will forever be issues, because not many within the walls want to rise above mediocrity or for that matter put the Animals first. Management will continue to make decisions without the Animals best interest a priority. The Director will continue to make uneducated, hurtful and disrespectful statements, Untruths will continue to be put forth to not only their own Staff, but to the public in order to serve the needs of the Zoo in any way they see fit. Staff will continue to run the place like its a school yard, letting personal issues rise above professional. The Visitors will continue to run wild and do whatever they want including breaching barriers, because the Zoo doesn't want to do whatever they can to ensure the safety of the Animals. Its a mess and not many seem to care, certainly not those with the authority to do anything. The Management Staff are the worst offenders and the Zoological Society Members don't care much past their menial duties and writing checks. Its sad and disgusting.
There is Staff that I know agree with me, then there is Staff that doesn't. To them I can only say, how can you sleep at night? Many think I look for issues, or even make stuff up. If anyone actually reads what I write its clear that I write about what I myself witness. I pick-up on things that are valid flaws/fails, obvious, curious and questionable. I rarely post any hearsay because that is not who I am. I'm honest and have no need to lie or make anything up. I post about what moves me. I have passion and I'm not afraid to say what I think. If you don't like me for that, that's not my problem. I care about Animals before Humans and that is what drives me. It actually surprises me that that some Keeper's choose to support cover-ups and gag orders rather than use the anonymous whistle-blower phone number option that is provided to Staff. It disgusts me that's its not used more, for the good of the Animals.
I start these posts on this day, Cinco De Mayo. A "day" many view as a celebration. The Chimp Sanctuary Northwest's Facebook post today reminded me of how the Zoo misses the opportunity to do fun things for the Animals. Before I say anything more on that, I want to link the Sanctuary Cinco De Mayo festivities you might find fun to see :) ... These Chimps love a good party and get one almost daily. I have been lucky to have provided Enrichment Toys for one of their celebrations!
http://www.chimpsanctuarynw.org/blog/2013/05/cincodemayo/
Anyway, its safe to say that the Zoo did nothing for the Animals on this festive Day (or they would have patted themselves on the back and posted about it), as they don't do anything for Birthdays or even International Awareness Days for specific animals. Currently their Facebook page boasts about all the Mother Animals (for upcoming Mother's Day), one being 42 year old (can't believe they got her age right) Elly the Black Rhino. This is an Animal who gave the Zoo fourteen babies, which at a fifteen month gestation equals over seventeen years of her life she was pregnant. Whoever let this happen committed a crime in my book, but what's done is done, you think they give her a Birthday celebration for that alone? Regardless of the fact that she is one of, if not the oldest Rhino in a North American Zoo. That would be a big fat NO to any celebration. ... Make sure to check back for a blog post in the next few days for more on the disrespect of Elly.
So, if you have read even a handful of my posts you will see a certain never-ending trend of topics. I'm Sad, I'm Tired and even though I know some of what I've posted here has accomplished some good, there is the situation of the Zoo actually paying people to do the right thing and they don't. I'm not sure I have it in me to keep policing all the crimes they commit against the Animals who live there. So, I'm just not sure how the future of this blog will play out once I'm finished with those in the works and my Sweet Wakoda's memorial.
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