It breaks my heart to hear that Sydney the Camel is be re-jailed to the Chattanooga Zoo. If I were an animal and somebody said "Hey, how about you retire to a ranch with lots of room to run, loving caretakers, and a natural, spring fed pond, or you can be kept at the zoo with not as much area to roam, a concrete cell block (much like a jail), and honestly, not to mention subpar care including the loving touches of many children (not to mention the education)." I think that I would choose the former over the latter.
Was it determined that Sydney was to be more useful to be paraded out on “special events”?
I liken this to a child custody case gone terribly wrong. The zoo feels that Sydney was malnourished and should be returned for proper care. The zoo gave Katie Noonan Benson six months to correct any problems with his move (ie. diet and weight gain). Rancho-Dino hired top camel specialist vets at their own expense. Sydney has continued to gain weight and is loving his fellow fur-babies and his environment.
The zoo decided that after one month, Sydney should be returned. My fear is that is Sydney is returned to the less than stellar conditions of the zoo, he will become depressed and die.
Darde Long, please, I beg of you, rethink your decision and give Katie the six month window promised with monthly reports from the vet. You owe her at least as much.
Sydney, our child is depending on you. Make the right decision.
Angie Williams