Tell Doug Ford: No more roadside zoos

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In Ontario, you don’t need any sort of license to operate a private zoo. Anyone can purchase a lion, tiger or camel and charge visitors to come and see it.

Animal welfare organizations have repeatedly documented a wide range of inhumane practices at Ontario’s roadside zoos: animals in tiny cages without proper enrichment, insufficient protection from cold and heat, disregard for animals’ complex social needs – the list goes on and on.

Other provinces have implemented provincial licencing systems to prevent this abuse from taking place – but among all of them, Ontario ranks dead last.

Ontario Greens condemn the cruel practices that have been allowed to run rampant at Ontario’s roadside zoos. We’re calling on the Ford government to immediately implement World Animal Protection’s recommendations to end roadside zookeeping in Ontario.

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Dear Premier Ford,

I was shocked to learn that out of all the provinces in Canada, Ontario ranks dead last when it comes to regulating roadside zoos.

I am strongly opposed to the cruel practices that have been allowed to run rampant at Ontario’s roadside zoos for far too long.

That’s why I’m calling on your government to immediately implement World Animal Protection’s recommendations to end roadside zookeeping in Ontario:

- Require enforcement officers to conduct comprehensive reviews of all Ontario zoos to identify violations of the PAWS Act standards and take appropriate measures to address them.
- Develop and implement a mandatory licensing program for all facilities, businesses and institutions housing native and exotic wild animals.
- Implement a possession, breeding and acquisition ban on facilities, businesses and institutions that do not meet licensing standards.
- Prohibit the use of wild animals for entertainment as well as the possession, keeping and breeding of dangerous and/or problematic wild animals by private individuals.

Sincerely,

You can submit this letter as-is or change it to reflect your own priorities. Your comment will be forwarded with the subject line "Put an end to roadside zookeeping", including your name, email and postal code to Premier Ford. You will also be added to the GPO mailing list but you can unsubscribe at any time.