Comments | veganpeople: Zoo rant

gogh_me in veganpeople

Zoo rant

Feb 06, 2008 19:29

For my brother's birthday (he's turning 29, not 5 or anything cute and innocent like that) my entire family is going to the zoo :( Zoos are miserable places and if I go I know I'm going to have to work hard to not bring everyone down with me ( Read more... )

zoos

Comments 63

ochibawolf February 7 2008, 01:37:14 UTC

I can understand circus and rodeos being horrible, but I don't understand where you are coming from with the zoos? Don't zoos help animals? I know they are in cages, but most bigger zoos have nice "habitats."

blueheron February 7 2008, 01:42:29 UTC

How do zoos help animals?

ochibawolf February 7 2008, 01:48:34 UTC

I guess they don't. That's too bad! Most people(like me) would think they do help animals!

blueheron February 7 2008, 02:31:57 UTC

I wasn't trying to be harsh (this is in reference to your deleted comment), but I was wondering if you (or someone else) had a good answer to the question.

I think that a lot of people have the same view as you did/do of zoos, and while I am sure that some zoos do have beneficial intents. But in no way are zoos the same as animal sanctuaries.

Thread 19

jaxin February 7 2008, 01:52:50 UTC

I wouldn't care what the reason was, I wouldn't go.

One of my best friends, who lives 3000 miles away came out to California to visit. We had two days to be able to spend together, and he and his girlfriend chose that one of the day's they wanted to go to Sea World. They made a plea about wanting to spend time with me, but I had to put my foot down and say that if they wanted to see me, it wouldn't be at Sea World. It really sucked because I wanted to see them... but I'm not putting my ethics aside for anyone.

gogh_me February 7 2008, 01:56:35 UTC

Yeah, backing out is still a big option for me...
Thanks for your comment.

snowtonight February 7 2008, 05:00:02 UTC

I'm so glad that you brought this up because I come from a family that loves animals and goes places to see animals on a regular basis (zoos, aquariums, etc..) Over the last few years I have become more and more uncomfortable with it (I only started eating vegan a month ago). I don't know why it feels awkward to explain why I don't want to go horseback riding or visit the petting zoo. Clearly these things are not in the best interest of the animals and yet it feels preachy and judgmental when I try to explain it. I know that this is my own hangup and I just need to get over it but it still sucks.

jaxin February 7 2008, 01:58:32 UTC

Side note: I used to go to the Aquarium all the time when I lived in Connecticut. At first I loved it, but over time it all just started to become sad. The sharks just lived in a concrete tank, swimming around back and forth endlessly for their entire lives.

I think it's one of the things that added up to help make me vegan.

Thread 11

negativoptimist February 7 2008, 02:01:04 UTC

I hadn't gone to a zoo since I was a kid, so my husband and I decided to go to the one in Niagara while on our honeymoon almost 7 years ago. It was HORRIBLE. There were so many animals cramped in each "habitat", and the poor bears were rocking back and forth because they had such mental instability. I wept while I watched them and we left immediately. I swore I would never go into a zoo again.

_wicked_eyes_ February 7 2008, 02:30:02 UTC

Are you talking about the Buffalo Zoo? Yeah, that one is horrible. I wish they would relocate the animals and shut it down already.

brandnewvelcro February 7 2008, 02:14:48 UTC

I'm not saying all zoos are like this, but there are some good zoos, that rescue wild animals and nurse them back to health.
Plus, I think for kids zoos are a great way to educate them.
I know there are some zoos that suck, however, I do think there are zoos out there that are trying to help the species.

However, I completely understand not going. Maybe you could suggest a trip to a sanctuary instead?

mayavada February 7 2008, 02:45:30 UTC

Some good zoos do exist; and as a side note, Newport Aquarium is rehabbing animals ALL THE TIME for re-release. Just sayin'.

liadlaith February 7 2008, 03:11:53 UTC

Plus, I think for kids zoos are a great way to educate them.

Taronga Zoo in Sydney is turning all the kids who come through its gates into rabid little environmentalists. There are tonnes of signs next to enclosures that basically say "Isn't this animal great? Wouldn't you love to see it in the wild? WELL TOO BAD BECAUSE ITS NATURAL HABITAT IS BEING DESTROYED BY STUPID HUMANS. Here's what you can do to stop it!"

vgnwtch February 7 2008, 10:51:25 UTC

Good :)

Thread 11

Semi Long Story...Maybe cherrystreet021 February 7 2008, 02:24:39 UTC

So I live in Colorado and the rodeo and stock show come annually. I babysit a lot, as it's a good source of income for a college student. And this one family i babysit for sent us to the stock show - luckily not the rodeo. Now the stock show is different than the rodeo, it's where people show their prize cows, pigs, chickens, bunnies, turkeys, goats. The amazing thing about the stock shows, is people wash, blow dry and trim (the hair) on their cows. The thing that baffled me was that people could care so much about their animals. And then eventually send them to slaughter houses. It just baffled me, and really annoyed me.
We also saw a dog show - not different breeds but "super dogs," they just ran around through obstacle courses. Which was kind of worse, because I really don't like dog shows...
Anyways that was my experience with the stock show, which is similar to the rodeo, but not completely.