Some comotion about feeding ex-pets to the carnivores at several Swiss zoos :
Swiss zoos are accepting unwanted pet 'donations' | Daily Mail Online
Swiss zoos are accepting unwanted pet 'donations' | Daily Mail Online
Pets fed to the carnivores
- Thread starter vogelcommando
- Start date
Some zoos in the Netherlands accept dead pets. Apparently many owners feel this way their dead horse or goat can still help living animals. Apparently sometimes zoos receive more requests than carnivores can eat - enough that I saw somewhere on a zoo website advice not to bring pets unannounced.
What is strange is reaction of the animal right organization - if they feel it is not right, aren't they the first address to step up and take care of unwanted pets?
What is strange is reaction of the animal right organization - if they feel it is not right, aren't they the first address to step up and take care of unwanted pets?
scuttleclaw
Active Member
Taking care of unwanted pets is an expensive task, which no one wants to pay for. Politics are not interested in participating. And finding a forever home for all of them is impossible. Some people recently (November 2021) tried again here in Basel, to get help with the overpopulation of cats (due to owners not castrating their cats which they allow to go outside). Mainly they want them to change the law, to make it mandatory to castrate your cat if it has access to the outside.
It's hard to hear, that people bring unwanted pets to the zoo, to throw them away. A year ago I adopted Fawkes, an unwanted cat, who should have been euthanized if his previous owner had her way. I just can't understand those people.
But I never heard that this is a thing here in Switzerland. Bringing your spare pets to the zoo? And it doesn't make sense to me - I mean, what if the pet is sick and the previous owner doesn't know about it?
It's hard to hear, that people bring unwanted pets to the zoo, to throw them away. A year ago I adopted Fawkes, an unwanted cat, who should have been euthanized if his previous owner had her way. I just can't understand those people.
But I never heard that this is a thing here in Switzerland. Bringing your spare pets to the zoo? And it doesn't make sense to me - I mean, what if the pet is sick and the previous owner doesn't know about it?
I never heard of a zoo feeding cats or dogs to carnivores outside April 1*., but dead hooved animals or live rodents or rabbits (naturally to be humanely killed at a zoo) seem OK. Anyway, they are dual status - some goats and rabbits are in a pet zoo, others are food of carnivores (and food in restaurant).
In the Netherlands, important factor seemed to be that a dead horse or a goat must be disposed according to veterinary law, which is pricey.
*Bernhard Grzimek written once that a newspaper published a Fools Day prank that the zoo buys cats to feed predatory mice imported from Africa. Numerous people purposefully stole cats and later argued at the zoo gates.
In the Netherlands, important factor seemed to be that a dead horse or a goat must be disposed according to veterinary law, which is pricey.
*Bernhard Grzimek written once that a newspaper published a Fools Day prank that the zoo buys cats to feed predatory mice imported from Africa. Numerous people purposefully stole cats and later argued at the zoo gates.
scuttleclaw
Active Member
good to hear that it was only an April Fool's joke.
Of course, if an animal in a zoo dies (including petting zoo) they will use it as food if it is healthy. It does make sense to me (I mean buying meat is not cheap). Also animals that are bred to end up as food (mice, rabbits etc.).
Of course, if an animal in a zoo dies (including petting zoo) they will use it as food if it is healthy. It does make sense to me (I mean buying meat is not cheap). Also animals that are bred to end up as food (mice, rabbits etc.).