This zoo has been in existence for as long as I can remember and for as long as I can remember I have heard stories about how awful it is. So, for at least 15 years there has been a place where animals go to be imprisoned until they die and yet nothing has been done. How is that even possible? 

The animals are being caged in enclosures that would be considered too small for common household pets. It is insane to me that animal control will go to a person's home and tell them they have to take their animals to the vet because of matted hair or risk having them taken away. However, there have been animals at this zoo with matted fur and no one has done anything and that is NOT EVEN NEARLY the worse thing going on at this place!

I have written PETA and here is their response:

Dear Carrie,

 Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about the Waccatee Zoo. Your concerns are justified; we have filed many complaints about this facility over the years.  Attached are two recent ones: 

 http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/24473841/peta-makes-allegations-of-neglect-at-waccatee-zoo

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) licenses animal exhibitors but, unfortunately, the laws protecting captive animals are pitifully weak. The federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) sets forth only minimum requirements for animal care, and for the most part, only addresses basic husbandry issues. For example, according to the AWA, animals must be fed, watered, and sheltered, yet space requirements only mandate that the animals be able to make “normal postural changes” (i.e. allow them enough room to stand up, lie down, and turn around). There is no requirement for grass, shrubbery or other natural vegetation. The cages at the zoo are within regulation. Many species, including horses, ponies, fish, reptiles and others are specifically excluded from protection.

 Because the laws are so minimal, it is often difficult to attack zoos from a legal standpoint. You may find that the cages are tiny, the animals look hot and dispirited, or that the animals are displaying stereotypic behavior, but none of these conditions are specifically against the law. Even when exhibitors are consistently found non-compliant during inspections, they are typically allowed time to make “improvements.” Because the USDA rarely revokes operators’ licenses, or even levies fines, animals continue to suffer at zoos all over the country. Waccatee is a classic example.  The zoo’s last inspection (copy attached) was “clean.” You can see what we’re up against.

 We have begged the zoo to relinquish Chico, the lone chimpanzee at the zoo, to a sanctuary where he could live in comfort with other chimpanzees. Chico has been alone for over 25 years. The owners have refused to do the right thing for this intelligent, social animal.

 We hope you will put your concerns into action! Caring people like you are working to make a difference for animals in roadside zoos all over the country.  There are a number of important steps you can take to get started:

 1. Write to the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. Tell them that you are appalled at the conditions at the display and that it reflects poorly on the community. Point out that the poor living conditions for animals make the zoo unworthy of promotion:

 2. Contact Myrtle Beach officials. Tell them that the zoo is an embarrassment and leaves visitors feeling awful for having visited. Ask them to take a more hands-on approach to what is going on at the zoo and to not assume that “all is well.” 

 3. Continue to spread the word! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper detailing what you saw and encourage readers to stop patronizing any place that uses or displays animals. This is an excellent way to educate countless readers about the grim life for animals in captivity. Use PETA’s “Guide to Letter-Writing” to help draft an effective letter: http://www.peta.org/alert/tkit.html. Posting reviews onTripAdvisor.com​, Yelp! and IgoUgo are also great ways to reach a lot of people, as is your Facebook page if you have one.

 4. Please do not go back to the zoo or to any other animal display.  As long as people continue buying a ticket, these displays will continue to exist and the animals will continue to suffer. It’s that simple. Talk to family, friends and co-workers, especially those with small children who may be inclined to go.  Explain to them that every ticket purchased is directly contributing to the animals’ miserable lives.

 5. Ask the owners of the zoo to finally allow Chico to be placed in a sanctuary.

 6. If you live nearby, please consider holding periodic demonstrations outside the zoo. We can help with the arrangements. Working at the local level can have a real impact for the animals. For more tips about how to get started, visit http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/AAactguide12.asp.

 To learn more about all our campaigns to help animals in captivity, please visit http://www.PETA.org. Thank you for caring.

 Sincerely,

 Jennifer O'Connor

Animals in Entertainment Campaign Writer

 

Let's do everything we can to help these defenseless creatures, please! We have to all pull our weight in order to make a change. v