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Animals well cared for at local zoos

Thank you for the your most accurate positive article, Tortoise sent back home. I so appreciate a journalist who looks for positive topics to report.

Thank you for the your most accurate positive article, Tortoise sent back home. I so appreciate a journalist who looks for positive topics to report.

I first visited Guzoo with my own four young children a number of years ago (my youngest is now 30). I was so impressed with how the Gustafson family worked so hard to create an enclosure for each animal as close to their natural habitat as possible.

The animals were fed in as natural a way as possible. Mr. Gustafson took so much time to tell the children about each animal and their habits — he gives the most knowledgeable tours about his animals.

There was never a groan at seeing a road kill carcass in the meat eaters pens. My Grade 3 classes as well as my own children appreciated that the road kill could be used for a purpose.

As a teacher, I truly appreciated the work the Gustafsons put into keeping things as close to natural as possible. We were glad the wolves, etc., were not sitting at a table with plates and cutlery.

I become very upset when each spring we have our critical crew move in and start causing their trouble about the state the zoos are in.

Do they not realize this is the hardest time of year to have things clean? The gates are frozen down from our winter snows, we are frequently unable to get tractors in to clean up debris in these pens.

If we have had water problems over the winter, we are not perfect every minute of every day with every container full of fresh water.

Farmers go through this too. Our corrals are a mess each spring. When it gets warm, we get in there and clean out, as the Gustafsons do too.

Do you think if we dropped in to these critics’ homes, it would be spotless every day of the year as they expect our zoos to be?

We are so richly blessed living in Central Alberta by having two fantastic zoos right here on our doorsteps to visit.

Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail is equally as great. Debbie and Doug Bos have been exceptional with my classes over the years as well as with my children and now my grandchildren.

We need to support the great work these two families do in helping us understand the animals that share our planet. Our students benefit greatly from a visit to these facilities so close for our enjoyment. Keep up the great journalism. We appreciate each article.

Roberta Volker

Delburne