Anonymous wrote:Horrible. I am not going there ever.

I don't think Leesburg Animal Park is owned by the same person. The first linked article mentioned a few other zoos owned by the same person. Leesburg Animal Park is not listed.

Oh, okay. Thanks....

Horrible. I am not going there ever.

I don't think Leesburg Animal Park is owned by the same person. The first linked article mentioned a few other zoos owned by the same person. Leesburg Animal Park is not listed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I *think* the same people also own Leesburg Animal Park, which, though a bit better than RZ, also looked worrisome to me upon a visit last year. Maybe someone else can confirm that it is indeed the same people.

I have also heard that the Cacoctin Zoo is terrible.

I just hate "small" zoos because there is little to no oversight and there usually are not enough resources to go around, and corners start getting cut, and it is the animals who suffer. Leave the zookeeping to the real zoos and get out of this business of keeping exotic animals in small litlte cages.

Go to Frying Pan Park if you want your kids to see animals. Those are domesticated farm animals and they are treated decently. It's not like exotic animals crammed in in appropriate environments just for the sake of us humans ogling them. So sad.

Oooooh, I would LOVE to see some of your research on this statement. I have heard the opposite, that the small zoos are continually hounded by vets and inspections, as they generate lots of tax revenue for their districts.

Here is just one: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/zoos-pseudo-sanctuaries.aspx

Anonymous wrote:We have proof that 1 person did something bad to 2 animals, right?

The Nat's Zoo had 1 person do something bad to LOTS of animals, right?

Yeah, I won't be boycotting.

The Natl Zoo person was not harming the animals in the zoo. It was random feral cats who frequented the neighborhood. Now, I am a catlover (I have 3 and also volunteer for a rescue group) and agree this is sad and awful. BUT, itit was one misguided, errant, rogue birdkeeper who mistakenly thought she was assisting her charges -- the birds in the zoo --by eliminating a threat to them: the roaming feral cats in the neighborhood. It was not a system of improper care of the zoo animals.

Anonymous wrote:I *think* the same people also own Leesburg Animal Park, which, though a bit better than RZ, also looked worrisome to me upon a visit last year. Maybe someone else can confirm that it is indeed the same people.

I have also heard that the Cacoctin Zoo is terrible.

I just hate "small" zoos because there is little to no oversight and there usually are not enough resources to go around, and corners start getting cut, and it is the animals who suffer. Leave the zookeeping to the real zoos and get out of this business of keeping exotic animals in small litlte cages.

Go to Frying Pan Park if you want your kids to see animals. Those are domesticated farm animals and they are treated decently. It's not like exotic animals crammed in in appropriate environments just for the sake of us humans ogling them. So sad.

Oooooh, I would LOVE to see some of your research on this statement. I have heard the opposite, that the small zoos are continually hounded by vets and inspections, as they generate lots of tax revenue for their districts.

I *think* the same people also own Leesburg Animal Park, which, though a bit better than RZ, also looked worrisome to me upon a visit last year. Maybe someone else can confirm that it is indeed the same people.

I have also heard that the Cacoctin Zoo is terrible.

I just hate "small" zoos because there is little to no oversight and there usually are not enough resources to go around, and corners start getting cut, and it is the animals who suffer. Leave the zookeeping to the real zoos and get out of this business of keeping exotic animals in small litlte cages.

Go to Frying Pan Park if you want your kids to see animals. Those are domesticated farm animals and they are treated decently. It's not like exotic animals crammed in in appropriate environments just for the sake of us humans ogling them. So sad.

We have proof that 1 person did something bad to 2 animals, right?

The Nat's Zoo had 1 person do something bad to LOTS of animals, right?

Yeah, I won't be boycotting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yea, I remember the Nat'l Zoo story too.
How quickly we forget.

Anyone still boycotting the Nat'l Zoo?

This is comparing apples and oranges. The situation at Reston Zoo is systemic mistreatment and handling of the animals. The situation at Natl Zoo was one renegade keeper who had a personal vendetta against feral cats because of the damage they do to the songbird population.

How is the situation at Reston "systematic"? Did the situation at Reston involve more than 2 individuals?

It's clwearly systmeic. We're not talking about a rogue underling. It's the Director of the zoo (who is the daughter of the owner).

Anonymous wrote:My family has only ever had a fun time there. It's a small little zoo. You can't go there expecting the San Diego Zoo.
It's fun for little kids to let them feed some goats.

Well, as long as your little snowflake can feed a goat, who cares how they treat the animals?

Ok, we won't go there. It's a private business, and the director and her father apparently have a long history in the animal business, and unfortunately of animal abuse.

We like the Maryland zoo...the animals seem better cared for and happier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yea, I remember the Nat'l Zoo story too.
How quickly we forget.

Anyone still boycotting the Nat'l Zoo?

This is comparing apples and oranges. The situation at Reston Zoo is systemic mistreatment and handling of the animals. The situation at Natl Zoo was one renegade keeper who had a personal vendetta against feral cats because of the damage they do to the songbird population.

How is the situation at Reston "systematic"? Did the situation at Reston involve more than 2 individuals?

Yes, it has been ongoing for a long time. Look at this article: http://vienna.patch.com/articles/usda-reston-zoo-has-violation-history

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yea, I remember the Nat'l Zoo story too.
How quickly we forget.

Anyone still boycotting the Nat'l Zoo?

This is comparing apples and oranges. The situation at Reston Zoo is systemic mistreatment and handling of the animals. The situation at Natl Zoo was one renegade keeper who had a personal vendetta against feral cats because of the damage they do to the songbird population.

How is the situation at Reston "systematic"? Did the situation at Reston involve more than 2 individuals?

Disgusting. I will never go back to this place again. That poor animal. Why no vet on the premises??? This is unbelievable to me and I'm not even an animal lover.

Anonymous wrote:yea, I remember the Nat'l Zoo story too.
How quickly we forget.

Anyone still boycotting the Nat'l Zoo?

This is comparing apples and oranges. The situation at Reston Zoo is systemic mistreatment and handling of the animals. The situation at Natl Zoo was one renegade keeper who had a personal vendetta against feral cats because of the damage they do to the songbird population.