In most instances, when a cherished family pet becomes sick, owners brace themselves for a painful farewell at the vet’s office. However, a shocking decision was recently made by a mother in Denmark, which left the global community taken aback. Instead of an ordinary pet clinic, this woman sent her daughter’s ill pony to a zoo, with the tragic fate of serving as meal for the hungry predatory animals.
On July 31, the Aalborg Zoo, a Danish transformer for over 1,500 animals representing 126 different species, made a public appeal for people to surrender their small pets to feed their carnivorous residents. This appeal aims to mimic the predators’ natural dietary habits by offering them whole prey.
The zoo explained their proposal on Facebook, writing, “In our European locust exhibit, chicken, rabbits, and guinea pigs form a crucial part of the predators’ diet, much like what they would naturally hunt in the wild. As zoos, we’re tasked with replicating as closely as possible the animals’ natural feeding habits for welfare and ethical reasons.” The post further invited those who needed to give up their animals for various reasons to consider donating them.
Questioning this Unorthodox “Pet Farewell”
Although the zoo confirmed that all donated animals are humanely put down by trained staff before becoming predator chow, their initiative spurred a barrage of criticism online. Netizens reproached the zoo, accusing it of treating cherished pets as carnivore servings.
A selection of impassioned remarks from the zoo’s post comment section included calls it a “deeply perverse and degrading initiative,” and others argued against the notion of giving away a pet as food, labeling it “disrespectful.” There were concerns about the message it sends about animal disposal and doubts over how this practice mimics nature. There were even sarcastic comments, one suggesting donation of their “annoying neighborhood children.”
Due to the “international interest,” the zoo had to close down the comment section. Its justification was to stem the flow of “hateful and malicious rhetoric”.
A Silver Lining Amidst Criticism?
In response to the zoo’s appeal, Pernille Sohl, a 44-year-old woman who runs a small farm offering therapeutic experiences for children with mental health issues, saw an opportunity. She informed The Times, per the Mirror’s report, that while it might sound “dramatic and bizarre,” she believed it was the right course of action.
Sohl’s daughter’s German riding pony, named Chicago 57, had been grappling with severe eczema caused by mosquito bites, which resulted in agonizing open wounds. With recovery out of the question, Sohl deferred the decision about the pony’s future to her then-13-year-old daughter. She chose to surrender her pet to the zoo, believing it was a logical and humane decision.
A 150-Mile Journey to the Lion’s Den
Sohl accorded this method of “euthanasia” to the pony, bearing in mind its familiarity with travelling in a trailer. Having arrived at the zoo, the pony was put down by a bolt gun, a quick and painless method, while its final moments were filled with pupper and endearment from zoo-keepers.
Turning Pets into Feed: A Repeat Procedure?
Following her positive experience with the zoo’s approach, Sohl wanted to donate another of her horses when it passed away in 2024. However, the zoo declined on the grounds that the horse was too large to accommodate in their refrigerators. This led to the horse being processed into dog food instead.
Building a Food Chain with Pet Donations
According to the zoo, a significant number of pet owners have answered their plea, with donations including 22 horses, 53 chickens, 137 rabbits, and 18 guinea pigs. The zoo firmly believes in providing their predators with whole prey—including fur, bones, and organs—it citing this practice to enrichment, nutrition, and wellbeing of their animals. Avoiding waste of otherwise euthanized animals, they argue, makes for a meaningful farewell which benefits not only their predatory residents, but also emphasises the natural lifecycle.
We invite your thoughts on this debatable issue. Would you ever consider donating your pet, a cherished family member to some, for supporting predatory animals? Share your perspective with us below and pass on this thought-provoking story to your friends for a wider discussion!
