Stuffing Pockets: Stop the GuZoo Taxidermy Slaughter
- by: Concerned Albertans for Animal Welfare and Public Safety
- recipient: Mel Knight, MLA, Director of SRD; Jack Hayden, MLA, Minister of ARD; Ken Dean, Alberta SPCA; Terra Johnston, Alberta SPCA; Ron Bjorge, Alberta SRD; Deryl Empson, F & W Division, Alberta SRD; Rick Blackwood, Alberta SRD
The owner of GuZoo, Mr. Gustafson, both during and after the investigation, threatened to euthanize many of the animals at GuZoo for taxidermy purposes in order to recoup his investment. The slaughter of these animals is not necessary, as many organizations including the Alberta Government, ZooCheck Canada, and CAAWPS are working hard to relocate them to accredited sanctuaries and rescues. ZooCheck Canada has even generously offered to pay for all transportation costs associated with relocating the animals.
"That lion is worth $10,000 to taxidermy, and if that's what these people want -- that's what they'll get," - Lynn Gustafson
"A taxidermist offered to do one of every one of my species that had to go. I thought, Why not?" Lynn Gustafson said. "That's what we had them for all these years"
We are petitioning the ASPCA to lay charges against Mr. Gustafson, due to violations of animal cruelty laws under the Animal Protection Act, including leaving animals in a state of distress by failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, space and care.
In addition, we are asking the Alberta SRD Minister to take all necessary action to ensure that the owner of the zoo be prohibited from killing healthy animals simply because the zoo is closing. We expect the government of Alberta to use all possible authority to rehome the animals at Guzoo and to ensure their safety until they can be safely be moved from the facility, given that the owner of the facility has threatened harm to the animals.
"This is the wonder of their whole setup: I have to get rid of every animal, but then I can start over again." - Lynn Gustafson
Dear Honourable Ministers and Directors,
We the undersigned, support the aims of Concerned Albertans for Animal Welfare and Public Safety (CAAWPS), and are extremely grateful for your dedication to addressing the concerns surrounding GuZoo, and for assisting with the investigation involving third party experts. We understand that this has been a difficult issue for all parties.
Despite the progress made in recent days, we are still very concerned over the future of the animals at GuZoo. The owner of GuZoo Mr. Gustafson, both during and after the investigation, has threatened to euthanize many of the animals at GuZoo for taxidermy purposes in order to recoup his investment. The slaughter of these animals is not only unnecessary, but morally reprehensible, as many organizations including the Alberta Government, ZooCheck Canada, and CAAWPS are committed to relocating them to sanctuaries and rescues. ZooCheck Canada has even generously offered to pay for all transportation costs associated with relocating the animals. Surely in light of the recent Whistler sled dog massacre and the public outrage which ensued, the Alberta Government would do anything in its power to prevent a similar type of incident within its borders.
We believe that there is adequate evidence to justify laying charges against Mr. Gustafson under the Animal Protection Act for for keeping animals in a state of distress, by failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, space and care. Given these violations of the Animal Protection Act and Section 446 of the Criminal Code of Canada we feel that seizure of all animals from the Guzoo is an appropriate course of action. We hope that the government and the Alberta SPCA will take action and ensure that all of the animals at the facility have a secure future. Mr Gustafson has expressed his desire to reopen the zoo with non-controlled species. Given that he has failed time and again to provide adequate care for this animals over the past 2 decades it would be short-sighted not to seek the full enforcement of all relevant laws in this case. For this reason, we are requesting that charges be laid under the Animal Protection Act and that a recommendation be made to the court that, if/when convicted, the penalty include a prohibition of keeping animals by Mr. Gustafson and other parties responsible for the APA violations.
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
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