After an unwelcomed spotlight shone on the GuZoo in Three Hills, supporters have rallied to make changes for the betterment of the animals.
What started as an anti-GuZoo groundswell ended up forging the resolve of supporters, as the GuZoo expressed on its website, “…the tides began to turn and the phone calls and letters of support started coming in. By day four the supporters outnumbered the anti-GuZoo activists and we began to realize just how many lives we have positively touched over the years.”
This was brought to a head at a meeting at the Three Hills Super 8 on April 28. According to one supporter Paula Sutherland, it was standing room only at the meeting.
“It was a wonderful turnout. We met a lot of different people, we met people coming from Saskatchewan, and Edmonton,” said Sutherland. “We even had some people there who were on the side of getting rid of the GuZoo, who are now on the GuZoo side after they had visited and realized it may need a bit of work and the animals were not threatened or in danger, they just need some TLC.”
Not long after the media blitz, the GuZoo was issued a temporary licence and have been inspected by the Health Authority, Alberta Fish and Wildlife and the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and according to the GuZoo blog, any issues have been dealt with.
Sutherland said the meeting at the Super 8 was an organizational meeting to collect ideas and to break into committees. There are now different groups that will be working on different aspects for the GuZoo.
She said at the meeting, they began to organize different groups to work on fundraising, collect donated supplies and animal feed, and to work on building and restoration of the facility.
They have organized contact points for communities in Drumheller, Red Deer and Calgary.
For those who have donations such as meat or produce to use as feed for animals, or building materials that could be used for the GuZoo for construction, the local contact is Tara Metzger. She has been provided a deep freeze to store food, and will be travelling to the GuZoo once a week to drop off supplies. Call 403-823-5333 to talk to Metzger and arrange a drop-off.
Sutherland says there will be a meeting coming up on May 22 to further organize and focus. She said the main construction priority will be the new Lion facility, and they are working on raising funds and materials for the construction.
