ZOO ISSUE NOT SETTLED YET - THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IMPROVE LIVES OF THE SPRUCE HAVEN ANIMALS You may already know that on February 20th, Sault Ste Marie City Council discussed revisions to their Animal Care and Control Bylaw. During the meeting a motion was put forward by Councillors Steve Butland and Susan Myers that would exempt Spruce Haven Zoo from the bylaw allowing the zoo to operate however it wants without having to satisfy any municipal bylaw requirements for animal care, with no chance of ever being found in violation of the bylaw and, of course, for the animals it means they can be kept in their current conditions for the rest of their lives. The Butland/Myers motion contained the clause "therefore be it resolved that City Council direct the Solicitor to include in the proposed new [Animal Care and Control] bylaw wording such that would exempt or grandfather Spruce Haven Nature Park from complying with any sections of the proposed new bylaw that would otherwise cause the operation to be in a state of non-compliance." The motion passed 6 – 4 in favour, so the revised Animal Care and Control Bylaw was sent back to staff for redrafting. It will be brought back for consideration and a vote at a future Council meeting. When that happens, Council can send the bylaw back to staff again for more changes or Councillors can introduce new motions to amend the bylaw to address animal welfare and public safety issues or to remove the proposed exemption for Spruce Haven Zoo. Of course, it also means that Council could just vote and pass the new bylaw with the total exemption for Spruce Haven Zoo intact and no new amendments at all. If you live in Sault Ste Marie (or have been to the Spruce Haven Zoo and are concerned about it receiving an exemption) please send an email to the City of Sault Ste. Marie Mayor and Members of Council urging them not to include any clause that exempts or grandfathers the Spruce Haven Zoo. Note that a few Sault Ste Marie City councilors claim they have not heard from their constituents or local residents about the Spruce Haven Zoo issue. If you live in Sault Ste Marie and want to help, it is extremely important that you email the Mayor and Members of Council on this issue. Hundreds of Sault Ste Marie residents have signed this petition, so we know there is a lot of concern. Let your elected officials know that Spruce Haven Zoo should not be exempted from the City’s Animal Care and Control Bylaw. Even a one sentence email would be helpful. Mayor and Members of Sault Ste Marie City Council at cityclerk@cityssm.on.ca