In Reply to: zoos posted by Angela on Wednesday, 20. September 2006 at 07:35 Bali Time:
Unfortunately like most things there are good and bad stories.
I have a bad story to tell about an animal refuge centre.
I have previously told this story excluding some details...
A few years ago we adopted a one eyed little dog. He was riddled with fleas, was disgustingly smelly but oh so cute. It was late on a Friday afternoon.
I took little 'Pooka' back to my parents home before returning to the country the following day. Whilst my brother was patting him he noticed a 'crooked jaw' & had trouble eating.
So on the Monday morning I rang the shelter to ask a few questions about Pooka. I initially asked how long they'd had Pooka. Was informed it was over a week. Yet when I picked him up he was still full of fleas and unwashed!
I then asked if they'd noticed he had a crooked jaw and couldn't eat. The answer was simply no!
I contacted the RSPCA and sent a letter to them and they followed up on this case. The only answer I got was it's not the shelters responsibilty to check their health and welfare, just to feed and water them.
Hmm! So not all apparently good things are as they seem. Just as not all apparently bad things are as they seem.
I agree with the sad plight of 'dolphins in captivity' - but from all accounts the animals at Mellka are 'rescue animals'.
How on earth can anyone judge and hold an opinion without researching the full facts on what is going on at the hotel?