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I will admit that I LOVED them growing up. Being able to see these gorgeous creatures, and sometimes so close-up, was a real thrill. I always loved animals. The zoo and the aquarium use to be my favorite places to go but over time I started to feel guilt and even a sick feeling in my gut during my visits. What do you guys think about the education and research benefits of zoos vs the health and well being of the animals in captivity? I can't see myself ever visiting a zoo again, although the idea of going to a zoo with a better reputation(like San Diego which I've also heard isn't as great anymore or as much as people usually say or Australia Zoo in Queensland) is tempting but the guilt tells me this is wrong wrong wrong. I also have an issue with aquariums, especially when they go scoop fish out of the ocean and bring them back to the aquarium to inhabit their coral reef displays...sick! What are you feelings on this?
Also it might be nice for people to list their ideas for animal friendly alternatives and trips for kids like to animal sanctuaries ect...
I use to work in a pet store(it brings me great shame but I learned a lot and it's partially what inspired me to change my life) and it drove me nuts when parents would bring their kids to the pet store to look at the animals and say "it's cheaper than the zoo!". This killed me and I always saw it as one of the reasons children grow up not realizing how sick the pet store business really is. I even remember going as a child to the pet store at the mall. I love looking in the fish tanks and hearing the parakeets go crazy, but as an adult it seems so weird my parents would take me there and it never ocurred to them that the poor animals were not being treated properly? Bad cycle, and it took working IN a pet store and going behind the scenes to see it, although our store did NOT sell cats or dogs, but I feel selling birds, small animals ect is just as bad and the facilities they come from are just gross.
Anyway can we list some kid friendly and adult friendly alternatives to the zoo and aquarium?
Can we talk about petting zoos and local farms, horse farms, horseback riding...what's ok and whats not an why.
ugh i totally agree i just put up a post of a fair i went to and was almost in tears seeing the animals! i remember the same things growing up but after this wknd i cant bring my nieces to the zoo anymore and same thing i go to this zoo tht i still feel bad but they atlest look healthy but still, no more! i just have been bringing them on a trail ( there 2 so we take a stroller) and on the top of the hill we see all birds and lizards and they get such a kick out of it and later in the summer they have hikes by me where ull see all different kinds of animals and the winter spring you see seals all up on the rocks wich they thought was so cool obv not knowing better or wat was going on but i rather them remember that then wat we thought as kids was great seeing dogs in tiny cages at the mall :( but see if they have any stuff like that for your kids and they think its cool learning about random nature stuff on the way
I think a trail, nature hike or something like that is a much better alternative and seeing some local animals in their natural habitat is more thrilling in a way than seeing a beautiful exotic animal in an enclosure...right?
I think a good way to see some animals, especially "farm" animals, is to visit true animal sanctuaries.
I feel like going in a trail now too, thanks for that idea.
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