From: Erik Hendricks [mailto:ehendricks@pspca.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 2:31 PM
To: ____
Subject: Re: Philadelphia Zoo

I will pass your specific complaint on the rhino on to one of our agents.

Erik Hendricks
Executive Director
Pennsylvania SPCA

> From: __
> Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:11:18 -0400
> To: Erik Hendricks <ehendricks@pspca.org>
> Cc: <Ubehumane@aol.com>
> Conversation: Philadelphia Zoo
> Subject: RE: Philadelphia Zoo
>
> Dear Mr. Hendricks,
>
> Your email appears to be a form letter response to concerns about the
> Philly Zoo, which I was hoping to avoid.  I am not concerned about what
> you think "most people feel" about zoos.  How is that relevant?  I am
> concerned about the elephants and the rhino at the Philadelphia Zoo.
>
> The rhino is not provided with shade or a way to get out of direct
> sunlight at certain points during the day.  I believe the failure to
> provide shade is a violation of 18 Pa CS 5511(c) .   How do I file a
> complaint?
>
> When was the last time you or someone from the SPCA saw the elephants or
> the rhino?

From: Erik Hendricks [mailto:ehendricks@pspca.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: Philadelphia Zoo

Dear Ms. _____,

The elephants (and the rhino to a lesser degree) at the Philadelphia Zoo
have been the target of complaints for years.  While their environment
cannot be said to be "natural" it doesn't violate Pennsylvania's law on
cruelty to animals, which is what we enforce.

The only way to address this is to get the zoo's board of directors to make
a change.  Unfortunately, no zoo has the space to properly house elephants,
and the Philadelphia Zoo is particularly small, but zoos apparently like to
have elephants because they help to draw the crowds necessary to sustain the
budget, so I think the Philadelphia Zoo will be reluctant to simply move the
elephants to some elephant sanctuary and close the exhibit.

As you know, there are many people who would like to close all zoos, feeling
that it isn't natural (or nice of humans) to cage other species.  Most
people, however, feel that zoos do provide an educational experience that
benefits animals in general, even though the particular ones in the zoos may
not be leading normal lives.

Erik Hendricks
Executive Director
Pennsylvania SPCA


> From: "
> Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 15:08:05 -0400
> To: <ehendricks@pspca.org>
> Conversation: Philadelphia Zoo
> Subject: Philadelphia Zoo
>
> Dear Mr. Hendricks,
> 
> I received your name from Johnna Seeton as the person to contact
> regarding animal care issues at the Philadelphia Zoo, specifically the
> elephants and the rhino.  Would you be available to discuss this over
> the phone?
> 
> Thank you,
> 
>
>
>
>
>