Port Moody has asked staff to develop a policy banning mobile animal demonstrations from operating on public or private property in the city.
The owners of a couple of animal rescue and rehabilitation centres are pushing back against Port Moody’s decision to ban mobile petting zoos and animal programs, saying their demonstrations help to pay for the care of rescued animals.
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Wild Education doesn’t have the same volume of financial donations as the SPCA, so it relies on public demonstrations to help with rehabilitation costs.
Hopcraft plans to meet with Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti on Monday to urge the city to reconsider. He said he will bring signed letters from several schools and teachers supporting the education efforts with students.
“There are so many flaws and misinformation in this whole thing,” he said.
Last week, following a presentation from the B.C. SPCA, Port Moody city council asked staff to develop a policy to ban mobile animal demonstrations from operating on public or private property in the city.
The B.C. SPCA says animals in petting zoos are “typically subjected to noisy crowds of people in unfamiliar spaces and have little or no opportunity to hide or rest.” The organization also says they can be subjected to psychological damage and stress.
There are no minimum standards or accreditation for petting zoos in B.C. and so the B.C. SPCA says it’s difficult for staff to determine if the animals are being treated properly.
The B.C. SPCA supports rescue and rehab centres that can ensure all animals in their care are properly fed and free of pain, distress and discomfort, “however, we do not support the use of these animals for entertainment or public display,” said spokeswoman Nadia Xenakis.
“Further to that, when the B.C. SPCA has capacity to do so, we do accept some reptiles.”
Port Moody Coun. Kyla Knowles introduced the motion last year raising concerns about putting animals on display for people’s entertainment.
“We believe in gently coexisting with our wild neighbours and ensuring our actions don’t harm them. We lead by example, and banning mobile petting zoos is an easy, low-barrier step to show our commitment to animal welfare in Port Moody,” Knowles said in a statement.
Hopcraft said Port Moody council is making its decision without consulting organizations that provide these services and without “a shred of evidence” that the animals are being harmed.
He said Port Moody officials are welcome to take a tour of his rescue centre in Langley or come to a live demonstration.
“They are saying these animals live in small transport bins. No, they’re only in the transport bin to and from the location, and then they go back to the facility in eight-foot-by-eight-foot enclosures.”
Hopcraft said he only brings animals that are comfortable interacting with humans.
“If the SPCA knew anything about reptiles, they’d know that when they get stressed out they bite, whip or try to get away, because reptiles don’t show emotions the same way cats and dogs do. No one has been whipped or bitten by a snake at my demonstrations.”
Hopcraft argues it’s all about education. He said that when he does a demonstration he actively discourages people from buying wild animals for pets.
“We don’t breed and sell animals. We are trying to raise awareness about that.”
He added that while other businesses, such as those that offer pony rides at birthdays, will be affected by the ban, he thinks this move was directed at Wild Education because someone complained that a turtle was roaming free at the Fingerling Festival in Port Moody, a claim he denies.
“That turtle was actually a 100 pound tortoise, and it was inside of a pen. So yes, the pen was on the arena floor, but it wasn’t just out roaming around unsupervised on a floor,” he said.
Her business, she said, is also a rescue operation that offers livestock demonstrations. Some of the animals are rescues from slaughterhouses. There are goats, cows, rabbits, mini-horses and donkeys.
Like Hopcraft, Neville said she is only able to care for these animals because of money earned from live demonstrations. She worries that if cities follow Port Moody’s lead, rescue operations that help animals that the B.C. SPCA doesn’t take in will suffer.
She said she only takes animals that enjoy being around people to homes and schools. The rest stay at the farm.
“I over-spoil my animals. That’s what I’m kind of known for, is overdoing it with the care,” she said. “People reach over low fences and the animals are like, ‘Get me, scratch me, rub my back, brush me,’ and as soon as they don’t want it anymore, they walk away and go do their thing. They love the interaction because that’s how they’ve been raised here.”
Neville said she’s always had a good relationship with the B.C. SPCA and was surprised by the decision.
“There are zero guidelines about animal stress and, yes, anybody could just go and say, ‘Hey, I want to build a petting zoo,’ and they can. So it should be regulated, but not stopped,” she said.
“Because we’re rescuing the animals that people don’t want. People get animals all the time because it’s a baby and it’s cute, and a few weeks later, they are like, ‘Oh, it poops.’ And they don’t want it.”