Hello everyone! I want to start off by saying thank you to all those who have shared & signed this petition. Your voices for these animals will be heard. That being said & getting right to the point, I have emailed Mayor Dennis Smith with the following letter posted below this update which included a link to the petition. The next step is for all of you to contact him either via email, dsmith@sequimwa.gov or you can call, Phone: (360) 477-4936 with your specific concerns for these animals. The more emails/calls he receives the stronger chance these animals have to a better future. We have to continue to use our voices & make sure they're being heard. Once he replies to my email I will send you all the update. Thank you for taking the time. Much warmth & positive vibes for you all! Here's the email I sent him (the documents attached are the same that I've included earlier on this petition): "Mayor Dennis Smith, I have started a petition in regards to the welfare of the animals in the Olympic Game Farm. Visitors like myself and my husband, Sequim and Washington natives are speaking up for these animals through this petition and the community is quickly growing. A couple of natives contacted me personally asking what they can do next to see changes made as soon as possible. I'm contacting you for help. All who have signed this petition strongly request that you, Mayor Dennis Smith, pressure the Beebe family and their employees to improve the welfare of the animals located inside Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, WA. My husband and I visited Olympic Game Farm, with the idea that this was a sanctuary for retired animals that were used in the entertainment industry. To our surprise, the experience was far from what you get when visiting a sanctuary. I wish I could tell you our time there was enjoyable, instead it was a heartbreaking and disappointing experience. The drive-thru safari is dangerous for the animals walking right up to the car windows. No one is there to monitor that everyone stays compliant for the animals' sake, which also endangers the people in the cars. The animals in the open areas hardly have any shelter from harsh weather, including heat. There was little to nothing to keep them mentally stimulated and provide behavioral enrichment. Instead, the visitors are sold loaves of whole wheat bread to feed these exotic animals! Being open 7 days a week, for 7-9 hours per day, this becomes their staple diet rather than a treat. Sometimes, we would see bread lining the ground of their enclosures because they become so full from it. The exotic animals in smaller enclosures, not part of the safari, which include a black bear and about 3 wolves, are seen pacing back and forth. People have mentioned this on reviews on their website, Yelp, and other social media, but no improvements have been made. Unfortunately, my husband and I didn't have a chance to look at how the reptlies and fish were housed since that section was closed off at the time. The ponies and camels didn't have shelter, all the while they would stand in the baking sun with all their gear on, waiting to be used for rides. As I write this letter, I'm exhausted and overwhelmed by the way animals have been and still being treated. This is slavery and cruel, period. When are we going to learn from our mistakes and respect ALL living beings? It starts with us to make that change. I'm asking you to please use your influence to push the Beebe family to provide all of their animals with much better care or to release them to a legitimate sanctuary. I understand we all have to make a living in order to survive, but we shouldn't cause others to suffer in doing so. Animals only want the same freedom and respect we humans desire and demand, except they don't have the voice or choice. These captive, exotic animals can't go back into the wild, but they do deserve proper care from their so called caretakers. As leaders, adults, mentors, parents, and teachers we need to set a much more positive and considerate example for others. We are ALL already living on a very harsh planet, therefore we must start teaching respect for all living beings. Here is a list of the changes I'm requesting: -Please make sure the USDA not only insepects, but pressures Mr. Beebe, his family and employees to comply with the veterinarians' medical and health suggestions. I've included a couple of USDA documents as attachments on this email showing how the Beebe family ignored veterinary advise last year, coyote exhibiting abnormal behavior & tiger enclosures needing repair or replacement. -Stop feeding bread to the animals. Instead, if they would like to continue the safari, allow for hay, alfalfa, grains and/or fruit to be fed. In my opinion, it's best if they don't feed them at all to keep animals and people safe. -Provide more toys, climbing trees/structures, pools and larger shelters for the safari animals. -Provide larger and proper enclosures for ANY caged animal (including reptiles and fish). This includes providing them with toys, climbing trees/structures, pools and larger shelters. -Allow for ponies and the camel to take breaks in between rides. Provide a large shelter to keep them from heat and harsh weather. I appreciate your time and support in this matter. "