After more than 20 years of operation the GuZoo in Three Hills, is closing its doors, and not by choice.
“We have not taken this step lightly,” said Mel Knight, Minister of Sustainable Resources Development. “We worked closely with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development to identify the decommissioning as the responsible action.”
Over the next seven days, the Ministry of Sustainable Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will work with the ownership of the GuZoo to decommission, remove and disperse the animals.
“The health and welfare of the animals and public safety at this facility have always been our primary concerns,” said Jack Hayden, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian is playing a key role in addressing the concerns brought to light at this facility and the action being taken.”
Concerns about the welfare of the animals were brought to light through an online campaign that caught like wildfire. An inspection by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) was completed. It looked at 108 elements from the Alberta Zoo Standards. Deficiencies were identified in all categories of zoo operation.
Almost immediately, Alberta Liberal Sustainable Resource Development Critic Laurie Blakeman lauded the development, although he said it was long overdue.
They’ve (the Alberta Government) got to do a better job of enforcing zoo standards,” Blakeman said. “Getting a license renewed shouldn’t be just a matter of slamming down the right rubber stamp.”
Following the initial wave of publicity of the conditions of the GuZoo, a group of supporters began working help the owner of GuZoo to improve the facility. Paula Sutherland was working locally to improve the GuZoo.
“I am dumbfounded, I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen,” said Sutherland. “It’s really disappointing, now what do I say to my kids? This was one of those things we do on a Sunday afternoon.”
She adds that it worries her the amount of power that a social media campaign can wield.
“I can’t believe that something went to such proportions based on Facebook. That scares me,” she said. “That something can totally change your life based on a social network of people who haven’t even visited it, an opinion that is biased for the most part.”
