Guzoo owners return fire from activists

‘We’re up to standards or we wouldn’t be open’

A much-maligned private zoo in central Alberta has shot back at animal rights groups protesting against it at Calgary Courts Centre and the provincial legislature Monday.

Bill Gustafson, assistant operator of GuZoo at Three Hills in central Alberta, says the provincial government wouldn’t permit them to stay open if they were not operating properly.

“We’re up to standards or we wouldn’t be open,” Gustafson, son of owner Lynn Gustafson, said in a phone interview. “They (protest groups) are looking for a zoo to shut down and set a precedent.

“These people don’t believe in animals in cages and believe that animals are equal to people. Zoos are the place you can see animals without having to fly all over the world.”

Conversely, a spokeswoman for the Council of Concerned Albertans for Animal Welfare and Public Safety, which joined the protest by People For Ethical Treatment of Animals, Anonymous and the DAISY Foundation, alleges the animals at GuZoo are living in deplorable conditions and, despite this, the provincial government keeps issuing a licence.

“We’ve tried to contact the premier and government department in charge of regulating zoos numerous times and they issue the licence without following rules, and they don’t return calls,” said Sylvia Meier. “There are lots of major concerns: general neglect, not being cared for and animals’ basic needs not being met.

“(GuZoo) has called us terrorists, but we’re looking out for the welfare of the animals ... If he could actually clean up his zoo and abide by standards, we’d take no issue with them. But in 23 years they’ve failed to do it.”

Pam Bowyer, a member of PETA, says the provincial government should have shut down the zoo pending a judicial review, but it never took place and she doesn’t know why.

“We don’t know why the government lets it operate when Zoo Standards Act standards are not met,” claims Bowyer. “I’m an animal health technician and, when I went there, I saw animals in need of veterinary care. It’s an embarrassment to me, to Alberta and Canada.”

In addition to questioning the motives of the animals rights groups, Gustafson denies that a video posted on YouTube was filmed at his zoo.

The video, shot by a self-proclaimed, unidentified whistleblower, shows dirty cages, maggots in a feeding bowl and dead animals.

“We take the position that those videos weren’t taken here,” said Gustafson. “The RCMP is investigating trespassing allegations and I want to do anything we can to help them.”

He also said there are few complaints from the visiting public.

He says the bad publicity has not hurt GuZoo’s business.