06/20/2020
**LONG POST I KNOW...BUT PLEASE READ**
On behalf of Brown’s Oakridge Zoo, my mother and father, our family and all of the animals we would like to thank you all for your support through all the years. Through the zoo we were able to meet thousands of wonderful people and form a lifelong friendship with many of them. It is thanks to you that we were able to continue to do what we love for so many years, helping many animals receive the love and care they deserved. As you are well aware the world is a crazy and uncertain place at this time. During quarantine a lot of things changed. Many of you were able to entertain yourselves by watching the Tiger King documentary. While parts of this show are very accurate, others not so much. It has allowed a negative light to be shed on an already very controversial issue. There are many private facilities who operate legally and are legit, and are working for the benefit of the animals. However, just like everything else in this world, there is the flipside. Just like the issue currently taking place in our country, it is sad. Sad that a few corrupt individuals can ruin, or tarnish, something for everyone in the business. Just as all police are not bad, not all zoos are bad.
Our family has taken in and cared for numerous animals throughout the years, always putting them first. Some of them were taken from other facilities and brought to the zoo for a better life. Others were simply brought to the zoo to partner with animals in need of companionship. Each new animal came with it’s own personality, was given a name and loved unconditionally. Some we weren’t even sure if they would make it. Nevertheless we never gave up on any of them. Unfortunately, as applies to everything in life, not all can be saved. That is part of the Circle of Life. We have always been transparent with our patrons. Some have a difficult time understanding things. Many of the animals that came to our facility were older, given the chance to live out their lives in a caring environment. Others have been at our facility from birth and have now outlived their average lifespan. Nonetheless, when an animal reaches its end of time here on earth, questions are asked and fingers are pointed. This is one of the reasons we have always encouraged our visitors to ask questions and we are open to anything. No question is dumb, but assuming is. I can say, without hesitation, without a doubt in my mind, these animals were always well taken care of and loved. There’s a huge difference between animals and people. Animals don’t lie. Their eyes are truly the window to their souls. You can not treat an animal poorly and expect them to be kind to you. The interactions between our animals and ourselves can not be denied. A bond like that isn’t given, it’s earned. And it starts with respect. Tho these animals are wild, none of them were ever taken directly from the wild. And it was always vital for us to remember that no matter how cute and cuddly, no matter how tame, that natural instinct is always inside of them. While there have been hundreds of animals at our facility, we never owned any of them. They owned us! They were spoiled to say the least. Many were raised in the house. It was easier for us (mainly my mother) to take care of them through the night this way. This never was a 9-5 job. It is a 24/7 labor of love and nothing less!
The internet is a wonderful thing…or a dangerous thing. There is truth, but there is also a lot of fiction. Right now Google the police. I guarantee you that you will find numerous articles of police brutality. How many do you find on honorable, heroic, everyday good deeds that the police have done? Why you may ask. It’s simple. The media wants you to see the worst in everything. The media goes out of it’s way for drama and conflict, often times creating it themselves. The same is true for many other groups or organizations and we are no exception to this. Google the zoo. You will see negative reviews. But you won’t see that the negative review came from a guest who was mad at me for asking them to leave because they refused to stop being rough with a cub and thought that I “owed” them a selfie session doing whatever they wanted. You won’t see that a negative review came from another guest because they were informed of rules to follow to keep the animals and all guest safe but they failed to comply with them. It’s easy to find the negative but harder for us to realize for every 1 negative review, there are hundreds of positive experiences. While doing a Google search you may also find articles from 911AnimalAbuse. This is a PETA group. Nothing but keyboard warriors who spew lies. No facts to back them up…and yep, you guessed it…Carole Baskins has her hand in this too. I won’t even go into all of that. You may also find fines and citations from the USDA against Brown’s Oakridge Zoo. Again, careful what you read on the internet. It is simple for anyone to file a complaint with the USDA, and then an inspection has to be done. You don’t even have to visit the facility to file one, many were bogus complaints…you guessed it…by the PETA minions. Some of them came from visitors to the zoo, complaining that enclosures were too small or wanting to know the details of an animals whereabouts. Again, all of this could’ve been asked during the visit and eliminated the hassle this entails. There are no secrets, we have never had anything to hide. If you took the time to Google the complaints and all the bad, then take the time to Google the USDA requirements for keeping and exhibiting animals. I, once again, can guarantee you that our zoo meets and exceeds the requirements set forth by the state and federal bodies that oversee our operations. Which brings me to one final point here. We have never done anything illegal. We are state and federally licensed and have held numerous other certificates and license through the years. Now that we’ve gone through the bad… how bout the good? Did you find much? Did you read where my mom has granted numerous Make-A-Wish or dieing request? Did you read how many sports teams my mom and dad have sponsored? Were you able to find all the fundraisers and activities my family has donated their time and all proceeds to? Did you read how my mom goes out of her way to do field trips with special needs kids or sets aside funding every year to provide experiences to the underprivileged? Did you find anywhere the amount of money my dad spent on purchasing animals to keep them from being euthanized and give them the opportunity to live? Were you able to Google the amount of out of pocket money spent to care for, maintain and vet the animals is spent on a yearly basis? Of course you weren’t and the list goes on! It is so easy for all of us to see and focus on the negative, when in fact, there is so much more to see. So many GREAT things that go unnoticed and it’s unfortunate.
So, with all that being said, and everything going on in the world, and the numerous threats, and the drones flying over our facility and immoral news crews showing up after being asked to stay away…. Here comes the hardest announcement we could have never anticipated making, the most difficult decision we’ve ever encountered and a huge heartbreak to the entire family….
My mom has decided to retire. Brown’s Oakridge Zoo will be closing. At this time we feel that this is in the best interest of the animals and our family. We again, thank you for your continued support throughout the years and the many friendships. The animals are forever grateful to you for coming to see them. And we are forever grateful to you for allowing us to be a part of so many of your lives. From birthdays to proposals, weddings to retirements, senior pictures to advertisements and everything in between… we THANK YOU!
We ask that you refrain from any negative comments during this already difficult time. Please at least respect my mother, and family that much. We also ask you to stay informed. Find the truth. Please do NOT support PETA and the HSUS. These groups are not what they were intended to be. PETA is the largest terrorist group in the United States. It was deemed so by the FBI in 2010. Do your research. If you want to donate, donate to your local shelter.
THANK YOU ALL
Heidi Brown and the entire Brown family & Animals🐯🦁🦝🦓🐅
