Posted on 07/11/2009 11:05:32 AM PDT by Daffynition
BOSTON -- The Franklin Park Zoo, the only Boston institution of its kind, may be forced to close and euthanize some of its animals, zoo officials said Friday.
Without more state funding, zoo officials said that they will run out of money within months and have to close both Franklin Park and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.
The zoos would be forced to lay off most of their 165 employees and attempt to find new homes for more than 1,000 animals.
Zoo officials estimated 20 percent of the animals would not find homes and could be euthanized.
“Not all the animals in the collection will be able to be placed at other facilities,” John Linehan, zoo president, wrote in a letter to the Massachusetts Legislature. “The Commonwealth would then be forced to either continue to maintain the animals in the closed facilities or euthanize them.”
The Legislature had originally provided $6.5 million to the zoos, but Gov. Deval Patrick cut the state funding to $2.5 million.
“These are extremely difficult times across the state, and there have been tough cuts in every area,” a Patrick spokeswoman, Cyndi Roy, said in a statement. “This is an example of an unfortunate cut that had to be made in order to preserve core services for families struggling during the economic downturn.”
The Franklin Park Zoo was founded in 1913. It is funded by state money, private donations and revenue from the attractions.
One trip to the zoo is all most current-day kids seem to be interested in. Maybe if the great apes in the zoo could be taught to text-message with visitors...
Of course that son of a bitch governor Deval Patrick won't cut one cent in welfare to help save the zoo. But then again, animals in the zoo do not vote Democrat.
I suppose Gov. Patrick is merely continuing the fine Massachusetts tradition of politicians simply killing those who get in their way.
It was a very fun movie ... I just finished watching it in segments on YouTube. Thanks for the suggestion. You are absolutely correct ...perfect fit!
I am glad you liked it!
Not an award winner but some very funny parts, especially when Cleese pretends to shoot the animals and the resulting scenes.
Michael Palin was pretty funny at the end.
Take care.
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