Aldor Acres petting zoo animals a cash grab
Aldor Acres, located in the Fraser Valley, is a family-run operation which breeds animals like cows, goats, pigs, and rabbits; all exploited and used as money-making attractions. Not only do the Anderson’s invite families to enjoy fun at the farm, they also offer "educational" dairy tours to the public. Schools can also make arrangements for the children to view animals in a "natural setting." What they don't mention, of course, is that when the baby animals grow up and aren't "cute commodities" they are usually sold at the Fraser Valley Auction. What happens then? Most end up slaughtered for food.
From their website poster: 2008
Easter weekend - March 21 - 24. (rain or shine)
Open each day from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m.
No reservations necessary.
- See the newest baby animals in their natural environment and
- visit our well-known hands-on animal display.
- See Peter The Great
and our huge white oxen, Zorro and Zeldo.
Baby piglets born on March 17th.
Twin lambs and a calf both born early Friday morning.
TRIPLET LAMBS born in the afternoon on Good Friday. - Cost is $6.00 per person (anyone of walking age) or
- $27.00 per family (mother, father, and own children) cash only.
Their petting zoo animals are also transported to seasonal events around the Lower Mainland, where an admission is charged to "interact" with the animals. This usually involves screaming kids running around grabbing at the various animals, who have nowhere to escape. The bottom line is always the dollar, not a message we should be sending our kids. Respect and reverence for all living beings is a much better lesson.
Family Day at the North Shore Auto Mall (2003)
Southlands Country Fair attracts huge crowds (2005)
Queen's Park, New Westminster's annual Easter event 2008. The animals were 'rented' from Aldor Acres, and among the barnyard babies were a two-day-old calf, pygmy goats a few days old, chicks about 10 -12 days old, and rabbits that appeared to be about 4 - 5 weeks old. (display not completed when photo taken)
May 2010 Carmina Gooch met with staff from New Westminster Parks & Recreation regarding concerns about their “Summer Bunny Program” aimed at youngsters aged 6-10. Contingent upon parent’s approval, kids were being permitted to bring a rabbit home for a sleepover after they had successfully completed a course on caring for these little critters. We had kindly requested that serious consideration be given to discontinuing the bunny program, and replacing it with something more appropriate and humane for today’s times. Something that would not involve the exploitation of vulnerable and sensitive little creatures.
It was too late to cancel the program for this year, but it was not offered the following year.
What Parks was unaware of, was that once the rabbits were returned to Aldor Acres they were slaughtered.
July 1, 2014 As we had read that Aldor Acres was going to be part of Canada Day celebrations at Fort Langley, we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to check out the animals and speak with members of the family-run operation. The standard goats, piglets, and lambs were on display. We were told that the piglets were five-weeks-old, and after commenting on cute they were, asked what happens to them once they got older. Mr. Anderson hesitated, and then responded “they become sausages.” “That’s too bad,” we said, to which he replied, “that’s life.” His grandson, (we assume, since he called him “grandpa”) and wearing an Aldor Acres T-shirt, was standing right beside us. We asked if he ate sausages, to which he said he did, so we politely told him that the piglets he was so fond of, become sausages. Lesson of the day. Hopefully, he will have a word with grandpa.
The Queen's Park Farm Petting Zoo in New Westminster is seasonal, and has an assortment of common farm animals, including goats, a jersey calf, pigs, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens and peacocks.
Yes, rabbits are still displayed in glass enclosures. Efforts continue to have this facility move away from exploiting animals for entertainment.
Revelstoke petting zoo charged under PCA Act & Criminal Code of Canada with animal cruelty
April 6, 2018 Global News, other
The owner of the Revelstoke Petting Zoo has been charged with animal cruelty. James Richard Bruvall has been charged with 24 counts of animal cruelty under a combination of the Criminal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The BC SPCA launched an investigation and special constables removed 15 animals, including one deceased pig, from the property during a warrant executed in July 2017. Other animals found to be distressed included five horses, three pigs, two mini-horses, a lamb, an alpaca, a goat and a peacock.
The BC SPCA says animals were suffering from lack of adequate food, shelter and veterinary care.
“We are very pleased that charges have been approved against Mr. Bruvall, as this is a very sad case where profits were clearly placed before the welfare of the animals in his care,” said Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and enforcement officer for the BC SPCA. “This individual was running a petting zoo and trail riding company using compromised animals and allowing them to suffer.”
All of the animals, except for one, have been adopted into new homes. “We are still looking for a home for the goat, but we are hopeful that a new guardian will be found soon,” said Moriarty. If convicted, Bruvall faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail, a $75,000 fine and up to a lifetime ban on owning animals.
Do-Little Petting Zoo farm probed over lack of animal welfare; SPCA investigates
Visit our Pet Shops/Rabbits/Legislation for more