A local petting zoo owner is speaking out after receiving complaints and “bad press” about a photograph that went viral earlier this month.
The photograph, taken at the Aurora Street Festival on June 5, showed “Millie” the kangaroo lying on its side in a temporary pen.
Stephanie Nikolich, whose boyfriend posted the original photo, tweeted “the kangaroo was in distress – it was drooling and panting in the heat.”
Millie’s owner, Tim Height of Tiger Paw Exotics near Arthur, said the picture was taken out of context.
“It was an overcast day, we didn’t have the third shade tent up, but when they were there, we said we were assembling it, but it didn’t matter to them, they went off, they called the SPCA,” said Height.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) was called to the petting zoo.
Brad Dewar, inspector for OSPCA, couldn’t speak to the specific investigation, saying “simply because our investigations, our information is kept confidential until such time it becomes public by way of charges being laid and before the courts.”
Dewar confirmed the OSPCA received a complaint and inspectors were sent to follow up.
“They had a look around and had no complaints, no problems and they left,” said Height.
Dewar said if there was a concern with the petting zoo, “it is going to immediately be addressed. If there is no concern, then the case would be closed.” He would not confirm whether the investigation was open or closed.
Millie, the four-foot red kangaroo, was checked out by veterinarian Colin Peace, of the Aberfoyle Veterinary Services, the day after the Aurora festival.
In a letter provided by Height, Peace said, “When I examined Millie on the farm she was in a group of seven kangaroos. Initially she was lying down with the others. She jumped up and vigorously ran around the enclosure when we went in to catch her. She appeared fit, healthy and perfectly normal.”
Height said all his animals have constant access to water, are fed morning and night and are given shade as much as possible.
“The kangaroo that I had there is very laid back, you can take her around anywhere. In the heat, she just lays down and goes to sleep, which is what she did,” Height said.
“(The kangaroos) can deal with the heat, but we prefer they don’t have to deal with it. We put the shade tents up and give them all the comforts that we can. In this case, we were just in the process.”
In her public response, Nikolich said, “You’re absolutely right that kangaroos sleep and relax during the day – but when they do that in Australia, they’re doing it on dirt and grass where they can cool down from the sun. Not on hot concrete with a handful of bedding.”
But Height said more bedding could irritate the kangaroo’s eyes and nose in the wind.
“They think they know more than I do … I’ve been doing this for this length of time, I went to university for this, but they thought that they knew more,” said Height.
Exotic animals
Most passersby do a double take after seeing camels or zebras standing in the field along with horses and ponies at Tiger Paw Exotics, a 32-acre farm east of Arthur.
Height has been in the exotic animal business for 25 years. He owns numerous animals, including camels, yaks, water buffalo, wildebeest, capybaras, zebras, lemurs, parrots, kangaroos, lynx and more.
He said keeping them is a 24/7 job.
“We don’t train them to do tricks, we more tame them than train them,” he said.
Height, his two full-time employees and 18 part-time employees attend approximately 300 shows a season, rotating the animals who are taken on the road.
Traci Dawson-Growshaw from Dog Speed Animal Rescue, a local animal rescue organization, said she passes Tiger Paw Exotics regularly.
“I started noticing it become a little bit dilapidated,” she said. “But I could see the animals and they appeared to be healthy enough and just because you don’t clean your house doesn’t mean you’re a bad pet owner.”
She said upon seeing the viral photo of Millie the kangaroo, she decided to call OSPCA officials, who told her they were looking into it.
“I think as a community we should try to help. I would actually like to see Tiger Paw have an open house and invite the community of Arthur, let us come in and see and maybe we can help,” said Dawson-Growshaw.
At the very least, she would like to see better standards of care at the property, but she doesn’t see the need for keeping exotic animals.
“I would prefer that exotics not be allowed in Ontario, period,” she said.
Ontarians do not need a licence to own exotic animals, unless there is a municipal bylaw regulating ownership.
Wellington North does not have an exotic animals bylaw and only regulates dogs.
“They’re not pets, these are working animals… zoo animals, they’re working animals, they’re there for a purpose,” said Height.
“As long as you can provide proper care for them, why can’t you own them?”
Dewar said exotic animal owners are still held to the standards of care under the OSPCA act.
Those standards include suitable shelter, veterinarian care, access to fresh water at all times, adequately fed and have a clean and comfortable environment said Dewar.
Height said his farm is visited by OSPCA inspectors twice a year.
