Many of the animals at the Hillcrest Zoo here in Clovis, NM are confined to conditions that have led them to display abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) indicative of severe psychological distress. Their sadness and frustration are palpable, and they would be better suited in a wildlife conservation where they can roam free and hunt for prey. I am humbly asking for support in bringing this ethical concern to the Clovis city government. We as an American society (global, really) are all like frogs in slow-boiling water: we have witnessed animal cruelty for so long that when the animals are not actively being abused, our standard has collectively become so low that we write them off as "good enough" and move on with our lives. Through no individual's fault, on a systemic level we have become desensitized to the true meaning of animal welfare.

Well friends, I can't move on this time. It is time we speak up and show Mayor Mike Morris and the new zoo director, Damian Lechner that we care about should, and they should prioritize, a) AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) certification for the zoo, and b) moving predatory animals to a wildlife conservation and use the empty space to build larger, more enriching enclosures for the animals that remain. The AZA sets the industry standard for zoo conditions, and funding is paramount.

If we can obtain sufficient funding to expand the zoo beyond it's current boundaries to create these AZA-compliant enclosures that go above and beyond to resemble the conditions of a sanctuary/conservation, that would be another amazing course of action. There are a number of ways we can drastically improve conditions for these animals, but again, public awareness and the funding that ensues is key.

Please help me with stage one of affecting change, and sign this petition so we can show the zoo's stakeholders we care. Thank you in advance for your support!