Take a Minute to Help Edith

If those in our community could take a minute to send an email or write a snail mail in behalf of Edith, she would be very grateful. She can't speak for herself and hopes that somewhere there are people who care enough to help.

This is a from a Peta alert and I thought it worth sharing here because Edit is an Older Woman who needs help to get out of a bad situation, like so may of us.

Peace,
Jane

Chimpanzee Abandoned by the Miami Metrozoo, Left to Live in Misery

During a recent PETA investigation of a hideous roadside zoo in Texas, we discovered a chimpanzee named Edith living in squalor, along with other chimpanzees, and being fed a diet of dog food and rotten produce. Edith was born into the zoo community and lived at the Miami Metrozoo from March 16, 1982, to June 22, 1987. The Miami Metrozoo passed Edith on to a breeder and dealer of exotic animals who ultimately discarded her at this Texas hellhole.

Edith is yet another casualty of the zoo industry's disgraceful practice of breeding animals and then dumping them once their income-generating or reproductive value diminishes. Presumably once a loved and crowd-pleasing figure at the Miami Metrozoo, Edith now languishes-abandoned, depressed, and nearly hairless-in a filthy pseudo-sanctuary. Edith will be 40 years old this August. To date, her life has been managed and manipulated by the zoo community, which ultimately abandoned her to spend her "golden years" living in filth and neglect. Edith deserves to live the rest of her life in peace and with comfort and dignity. That's not too much to ask.

The roadside zoo where Edith now lives masquerades as a refuge in order to collect donations from caring citizens. It tears newborn animals away from their mothers in order to use them for photo shoots and exacerbates the homeless exotic-animal problem by breeding and selling exotic animals. PETA's investigation revealed that animals at the facility were living in filthy, barren cages that contained piles of rotten food and feces, swarming with flies and maggots. PETA also documented numerous other instances of chronic abuse and neglect. For more details on our investigation, please visit PETA.org.

The Miami Metrozoo must take responsibility for its role in Edith's miserable situation, immediately retrieve her from the roadside zoo, and send her to an accredited sanctuary.

Please write a polite letter to Miami Metrozoo officials. Ask them to rescue Edith immediately and send her to an accredited sanctuary, and in order to ensure that this tragedy is never repeated, request that the zoo implement a policy of providing lifetime care for all animals born at or acquired by the Miami Metrozoo:

Eric Stephens, Director
Miami Metrozoo
1 Zoo Blvd.
12400 S.W. 152nd St.
Miami, FL 33177-1402
305-251-0400
305-378-6381 (fax)
http://www.miamimetrozoo.com

You can see Edith here, but be warned it will break your heart.
Edith (http://itsmeowornever.org/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=254)

oh god...
email sent

Thanks Christina from both Edith and I. :)

Sometimes it only takes a minute to make a difference in someone's life.

Peace,
Jane

An update:

An undercover investigator from PETA worked at the Amarillo refuge until August 2003, secretly using a video camera to document animal abuse. PETA says the investigator found animals living in filthy cages, surrounded by feces, given dirty water and suffering from untreated infections and other health problems.

An inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture backed up many of PETA's charges. The inspection found no regular veterinary care. It found that monkeys were being fed dog food and spoiled vegetables. It found that no program of toys and other "enrichment" was being offered to primates, in violation of federal law. It found that Edith was suffering from skin abrasions and hair loss and had not been seen by a veterinarian. The agency issued a formal warning.

But in a March 25 e-mail to PETA, the agency said Amarillo made "significant and continuing improvement," including hiring a veterinarian, serving better food and providing "enrichment" to pass the time for the animals.

Darby Holladay, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, said the refuge was now in "full compliance" with federal animal protection laws.

Charles Azzopardi, owner of the Amarillo Wildlife Refuge, said the PETA investigator orchestrated its photos and videos. All they're looking for is publicity for them to make money," he said. "They're not for the animals. The animals here, they're happy."

And he said he would never let Edith go because she's too old to move and could be hurt by other chimps if they didn't know her.


I think it would be very interesting to find out why Mr Azzopardi waited until he was investigated by the Department of Agriculture before making any improvements to Edith's life. He professes to care, but his words are as hollow as his heart.

Please send a short email and urge that responsiblity be taken for Edith and that a home where the owner is forced by law to provide the minimum is no fit place for any animal to have to live.

Peace,
Jane

Hmmm trying to send the e-mail, but it seems that perhaps its disabled atm or something? Do you have an e-mail address?