Over 400 Animals Rescued from Roadside Zoo in Iowa

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Over 400 animals were rescued and have been set up at various animal sanctuaries after several animal rescue organizations came together to rescue them from deplorable conditions at a roadside zoo in Iowa. The Cricket Hollow Zoo is in a position to now shut down after several appeals have failed to keep the animals on the property because of the witnessed neglect the animals endured. 

The first lawsuit filed back in 2016 against the zoo was in regards to two lionesses that were perceived to be poorly taken of and fell under the ESA despite being captive. The second lawsuit comes in 2017 after the Animal Legal Defense Fund sued the USDA for reissuing the licences despite the numerous violations evident at the time of reissue. This final lawsuit that also saw the animals finally rescued from their conditions, is the nail in the coffin for the Cricket Hollow Zoo. Among the animals rescued were black bears, sheep, mice, rats, mini horses, and donkeys, all of which were found to be improperly taken care of according to required standards.

This story once again demonstrates why roadside zoos need to be investigated frequently because in my experience reporting on these stories, often times these zoos operate with minimal supervision allowing them to slip under the radar despite there being instances of neglect or abuse. They rarely have contact with veterinarians to care for the animals properly, don't know enough about how to provide shelter and adequate space for the animals to roam, and likely obtained some of these animals through less than admirable means. They simply exist to exploit animals for the sake of profits, nothing more. 

It is crucial to monitor these establishments and ensure they are complying with all standards of animal care, have all appropriate licences, and have qualified animal care specialists readily available to care for these animals. This is definitely not the first roadside zoo nor will it be the last that is discovered to be in possession of animals that are not being taken care of properly which is why it is imperative that they be monitored and regularly inspected to ensure that the animals on their property are being properly taken care of.

Thank goodness the animals in this story are going to be ok but this is not always the case. Should you encounter a roadside zoo on your travels, take the time to contact your local animal rescue organizations and ask them about these properties. Ask them whether they're accredited or whether the organizations are aware of their operation. There's a very good chance that these establishments have operated under the radar and would likely be exposed for having lackluster conditions for their animals.

Ultimately, don't stop at these roadside attractions. As I said, there's a strong chance they are not doing things by the books and giving them your money simply validates the animals being treated poorly for the sake of profits.

HAPPY VEG