CALGARY – After years of controversy and complaints from the public, the GuZoo Animal Farm will be shutting down. The zoo will close its doors in advance of a deadline given by the province to address deficiencies related to animal welfare and public safety.
The private zoo no longer has a licence to remain open, but was given a temporary permit on May 6 in order to address the problems.
“The point of the temporary permit was to give them 90 days to address deficiencies identified in previous reports,” said Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development department spokesperson Duncan MacDonnell. “They had the choice – address deficiencies or cease operations, and they chose to cease operations.”
A Global News request for comment from GuZoo was not immediately returned. MacDonnell said deficiencies included inadequate fencing, instances of feces in food, and staff and visitor safety issues.
Owner Lynn Gustafson previously said fulfilling the requirements set out by the province would have bankrupted him. A voicemail message on the farm in April said the zoo would be “dispersing all of the licensed and wildlife animals” but would hope to “re-open again.”
When asked if the Three Hills, Alta. animal farm could continue to operate as a petting zoo as some reports suggest, MacDonnell said GuZoo is “not authorized to function as a zoo period.”
“We’re the ones that permit these things and our file on them is closed.”
READ MORE: GuZoo Animal Farm given 30 days to meet conditions; gets rid of wildlife animals
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