Why I Think It's Important That Members Of The Animal Care Staff Have A Voice

I have written much about my opinion that the Voices of the Animal Care Staff need to be a part of New Management.  It has been a desperate Need for at least the last seventeen years, the duration of the former Director's reign.  Too many wrong decisions made, ignoring Keepers and other's on the Animal Care Staff.  Our Zoo is an Animal Care Facility, their input is valuable and vital. 

Coincidently, yesterday morning as I prepped to finish the two "Unpacking" posts in draft, I decided to look at my Facebook memories, something I usually don't do until the evening.  A sad memory from an upsetting Zoo event seven years ago came up.  So, before I move on, I'm going to give some space to that, as it's representative of past management, led by the recent outgoing Director not putting value (listening) in Our Zoo's Animal Care Staff.  The list of offenses is long.  I've posted so many instances for years, that for now I will just post this, as I believe that things that happen "coincidently" are instances that are meant to be, not in "coincidence" in it's usual intention which is by chance.   The later I don't believe in.

Remember, I posted this to my personal FB, so be warned my words are emotional and casual, as I am speaking to my very small circle of friends that I share posts with.

August 9, 2018 ... I wrote this while at the Zoo, on the first day the Snow Leopard Cubs were going to be out...

"I am so pissed right now. I feel awful for these poor little Snow Leopard Cubs. The Keepers wanted to bring them out in the morning for a few days to get them used to the area before the Zoo opened.  Now Management not Animal Care Staff has made it a whole thing and issued a press release and is going to have media here and everything so the first moment these poor little scared two month old babies walk out into this exhibit without their mother for the first time there's going to be media here, people yelling and screaming at them banging on the window it's going to be packed.  So fucked up.  I don't know why the Zoo makes these fucking bad decisions as far as Animal Welfare they just don't care, they just want the media attention. You know they could have let it be at least this morning and tomorrow morning and then done the media thing tomorrow afternoon to lead to weekend.  No reason to do it.  They couldn't have even let the Keepers go with their plan for today and then the media thing this afternoon, but no, they had to do it this way.  Those poor little cubs are going to be so scared my heart breaks for them. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with the people that run this place. ...they don't care how their decisions affect the animals it's so disgusting."

From my blog post dated August 11, 2018, linked at the end.

As noted in my post from last October, detailing my opinion, but what has become and can be, a fluid outline of what a healthier Management could look like.  Since I've learned some things in the ten months since I put those ideas out there, I may have another go at it.  It's still a solid frame, but might benefit some tweaking.  Not that I have any say in the matter, but like other ideas I publish, at least I'm thinking about things and how to make them better for Our Animals and Our Zoo. 

That said, I will further add/reiterate...

In my opinion at least two VPs on the Animal Care Staff, and at least one Senior Keeper (not Curator, but representative of the Keeper Staff), should be part of the Board.  While that is completely doable in the snap of a finger, under the current structure, not one Zoo Staffer is on the Board.  This means they have no say in what happens in the Zoo's Animal Care Dept, even though they, not Zoological Society suits, are boots on the ground in Our Zoo, an Animal Care Facility.  There is something very wrong with that. 

Their voices should be heard.  Their experience acknowledged.  Having an Animal Care Team from the Zoo on the Board, allows for those with knowledge about Our Zoo to have some say over what happens at the Zoo.  Giving up a small amount of seats to Staff Members, would not be damaging, but beneficial.  For the last seventeen years, the Board has been clueless (by their own lack of care), to what goes on at Our Zoo.  That should never be allowed to happen again.  

NOW is the Time for Change.  

Change for the Betterment of Our Zoo.

Related posts:

*HOT TOPIC! - Snow Leopard Cubs Debut - the Amazing and the Upsetting ... August 11, 2018

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/08/snow-leopard-cubs-debut-amazing-and.html

Link includes video of what happened at the event.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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I used to use (search) labels, but too often forget.  I started noting "Hot Topic" in title, but fell lax on that.  Now I'm just going to add labels, keywords, etc., here at the bottom with hashtags.  Does it help in searches, who knows.

#SanFrancisco , #SanFranciscoZoo , #Zoos #SanFranciscoZoologicalSociety , #SanFranciscoZooDirectorTanyaPeterson , #SanFranciscoRecreationAndParksDept , #SanFranciscoMayorLondonBreed ,

#SanFranciscoMayorDanielLurie

#AssociationOfZoosAndAquariums , #AZA , #SpeciesSurvivalPlan , #SSP , #Animals , #Wildlife , #Nature , #AnimalWelfare , #AnimalCruelty , #AndeanBear , #KomodoDragon , #Chimpanzees ,  #PatasMonkey , #Fossa , #Orangutans , #Barriers , #PerimeterFence, #Pandas #Bison