TV ICON BOB BARKER OFFERS $100,000 TO CITY OF EDMONTON!

Television icon Bob Barker is prepared to contribute $100,000.00 to the city of Edmonton to use as the city choose if the city will agree to allow independent elephant experts, selected by Zoocheck Canada and Performing Animal Welfare Society, to come to Edmonton and examine Lucy, an elephant in the Edmonton Valley Zoo, who has lived in chronic physical distress for decades, according to the Zoo’s own medical records secured under the Freedom of Information Act.

“It’s crucial that Lucy’s condition be accurately diagnosed before her health deteriorates further,” said Barker. “It is indefensible that Lucy has been forced to live in misery for all these years.”

A number of animal protection organizations, including Zoocheck Canada, believe that Lucy’s health problems will lead to her death unless her condition is correctly diagnosed and proper remedial treatment is administered immediately.

Barker made the offer upon hearing that Lucy’s “respiratory condition” has still not been diagnosed and that Lucy continues to be in distress 18 months after reports of her ill health began circulating.

For several years, Edmonton Valley Zoo management have said they cannot move Lucy because of a mysterious “breathing problem,” but they have been unable to diagnose the source of the problem or to provide any treatment to relieve its symptoms. Meanwhile Lucy’s health and welfare continue to be of concern with her weight remaining excessively high and her foot problems (the leading cause of death in captive elephants) unresolved. On top of that, industry standards state that elephants should never be kept in groups of less than three and Lucy is all alone.

On January 13, 2011 the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) directed Valley Zoo management to diagnose and treat Lucy’s respiratory illness but the zoo and their consultants have made little, if any, progress to date.

“I sincerely hope the City of Edmonton will allow outside experts to help Lucy so that her suffering can be ended. It seems like a win-win-win scenario to me. The zoo wins, concerned citizens win, but most importantly of all, Lucy wins,” said Barker.

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Beam Lucy the elephant from zoo, Shatner urges Edmonton

More Lucy News at; http://valleyzoo.ca/pages/Lucy/EdmontonValleyZooElephant.aspx

The Zoopendous Surprise

Mary and Ellen over hear whisperings from the zoo keepers – A BIG surprise is in store for them and they can’t wait to find out what it is.

The Asian elephants visit each of their fellow zoo companions, but not one will reveal what’s in store for the lovable pair.

Mary and Ellen soon give up – they can’t even enjoy their daily bath. But just when they think they’ll never find out, the zookeepers open a huge box and everyone yells…"SURPRISE!!"

The Zoopendous Surprise by Boots Hensel, is a delightful picture book based on a true event that took place in the Arkansas Zoo. Mary and Ellen are indeed two elephants that are dear to the author’s heart – her daughter took care of them until she passed away from cancer in 2004.

I would highly recommend this book for any 4-8 year old. The story is sweet and the illustrations by Andrea Gabriel are bright and playful.

Check out Boots Hensel’s web site at; http://www.bootshensel.com/.

The Zoopendous Surprise is available on Amazon.com or check you local bookstore.