I'm in total agreement with (Gary Kooistra's) view points. We can't change the history and culture of the world we live and grew up in. I'm speaking as a professional animal care person having spent a lifetime caring for animals of every description from humming birds to elephants. The three that the Calgary zoo just sent to the DC national zoo I brought from Ceylon now Sri Lanka as babies. When I was a veterinarian contracted to provide clinical care to the zoo population of wild life. I grew up on a ranch in southern Alberta with an antelope calf as a pet my dad hand raised after it was separated from its mother. So I developed a strong fondness for animals early in my life. In addition I'm a professional dog trainer, horse trainer and a buckle winning rodeo cowboy. I have written a poem about the chuckwagon horses at the Stampede with similar ideas to Dr.Kooistra's letter. While we can't stop the appropriate use of animals, we can work to ensure their welfare is the best possible under the circumstances.
Thank you,
Dr. Darrel Florence, Adjunct Professor of Veterinary medicine retired.
Cremona, AB
