StoneMtn Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Zoo faces charges over treatment of hippo Last updated May 31 2006 08:01 AM PDTCBC News The B.C. SPCA is expected to announce animal cruelty charges against the Greater Vancouver Zoo on Wednesday over the treatment of a young female hippopotamus. The Vancouver Humane Society have been lobbying for charges since Hazina the hippo was moved to the Aldergrove facility from a zoo in Quebec in October 2004. The society's Peter Fricker said the very social animal has been kept in solitary confinement in a windowless shed with a very shallow pool since its arrival. "Alone, without access to the outdoors, with only a small shallow pool to wade in, and we feel that's totally inappropriate for an animal of that size." Fricker said it will be the first time a zoo in Canada has been charged with cruelty to animals.Hazina featured in TV ad Hazina was the star of a popurlar Telus TV commercial last Christmas, with the proceeds to be used to build her a new home and pool which is supposed to open later next month. But a spokeswoman for the animal rights group Zoocheck said it's taken too long, noting the zoo has been warned repeatedly to make improvements. "The SPCA gave them every opportunity to rectify the situation and move the animal into a better situation, and as far as I can tell, they just ignored that and went ahead and left her in a concrete barn," said Julie Woodyer Zoo defends hippo's treatment The zoo's animal care manager, Jamie Dorgen, said he was aware that charges were pending. But he questions the timing, noting they come at the start of the zoo's busy season. Dorgen said Hazina's new pool is going to open soon, and the hippo has been doing doing well. "She's doing great. She eats regularly. We spend a lot of time with her, working on her target training, which is great enrichment for an intelligent animal like a hippo. She gets all sorts of different enrichment opportunities as well with other things. "And the reason we can say that she's doing very well is because she's in great mental condition. She shows no signs of having any problems at all. She's in great physical condition." Dorgen also said he's surprised with the charges, as the SPCA has been working with the zoo for months, and had seemed happy with the zoo's progress. Dorgen says the zoo will plead not guilty to the charges under the Animal Cruelty Act, which provide for a fine of up to $2,000 and six months in jail. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Im going home Donny Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 I'm suprised to hear charges for cruelty have never been laid against any Canadian zoos before? Stanley Park Polar Bear?? West Edmonton mall Dolphins??? I'm sure the list could carry on for pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Low Roller Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Zoo faces charges over treatment of hippoThere's a Rita McNeil joke in there somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted May 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 ... only if you can tie in her Trailer Park Boys episode with that punchline ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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