Rotten food fed to animals. Mold. Few employees. Expired drugs. Rat infestations. Such were described in a USDA report on the Jackson Zoo. The report speaks for itself:
* The facility is failing to maintain their veterinary hospital that houses the Black Vulture in good repair. At the time of the inspection, the APHIS official observed approximately three inches of standing water in the hospital hallway and offices. The building smelled strongly of mold. The ceiling of the hallway and office had wet insulation hanging down and exposed rotten wood. The ceiling area in front of the sheltered housing for the Black Vulture enclosure was patched with plywood and smelled of mold. The roof has a hole that is approximately two feet in diameter. The roofing tiles are missing in some areas with the gutters pulling away from the roof. The treatment room smells of mold with black fuzzy organic material visible in the corner near the scale.The facility stated they haven’t been able to receive enough roofing bids to move forward with repairs. The roof has been in disrepair for over three months. Housing facilities for birds must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound for the species of bird housed in them. They must be kept in good repair and protect the birds from injury.
* The facility does not have appropriate facilities to comply with the Animal Welfare Regulations.
* The hospital treatment room, which also has standing water and a moldy odor, is used to store the facility’s medications. The controlled drug lockbox on the floor is flooded and unable to be used. There are rodent feces and nesting materials on top of the electrical box. The ceiling is discolored with fuzzy black organic material. The floor behind the metal exam table is discolored with fuzzy black organic material. There are rodent feces in the corner of the room behind the treatment equipment.
* The facility is not maintaining the surfaces of housing facilities including perches in the Chimpanzee, Schmidts Guenon, and Spider Monkey enclosures. The Chimpanzee perches have excessively rusted, bent bars supporting the wood planks. One perch is bent and bowing from the weight of the animal from 90 degrees to approximately 45 degrees. At least three of the perches have broken wood planks and one of the planks is no longer connected to the rusted support bar putting the animals at risk for injury.
* At the time of the inspection, the APHIS official observed a box of romaine lettuce with black and white slimy mold present on the leaves. The facility is feeding this lettuce to most of the animals. There was also an opened tube of raw meat (“Nebraska Canine Diet”) that was dark to medium brown in color with black crusty meat on the edges of the bag, indicating it was spoiled. The facility is feeding this meat to the otter.
* The fence in the Pygmy Hippopotamus enclosure is also in disrepair. A tree fell on the fence dividing the outdoor area, and the fence is currently half standing. Broken fencing can cause harm to animals.
Kingfish note; 85 animals? Crap conditions? Shut.it.down.
54 comments:
Agreed.... SHUT - IT - Down!!! Poor animals don't deserve this kind of neglect.
Why should anyone expect the zoo to be maintained differently than the rest of the city?
Does the USDA have the authority to shut it down? But, don't yall worry, they're raising funds to "clean up the zoo corridor" per the news.
This is criminal. Animals can't care for themselves. There is no reason to have a zoo in Jackson any longer. Disgusting.
Shut the shit down! Conditions described are not suitable for humans or animals. Jackson y'all should be ashamed but of course not! You workers should be contacting Morgan and Morgan immediately regarding exposure to mold and other unsanitary conditions. Better yet, place the entire city administration, including Council, in the exhibit called Dumbo. The few worthwhile citizens left here would gladly pay to come in and throw feces pellets at them.
Beth Poff was the only thing keeping the zoo afloat. She was doing everything she could to keep it going and which cost her job. Hard to believe how downhill it has gone since she left.
Stray dogs have it better in Jackson than these poor caged innocent animals.
I've said it 100 times, so I will say it again: Name me one thing that the City of Jackson maintains and operates effectively and efficiently. Name just one. Water, sewer, streets, drainage, traffic lights, policing, planning and zoning, the zoo, financials and audits? Name one. Just one. And the current water system doesn't count because JXN Water is handling it, not the city. Name one. Do it. Just name one.
Is the Jackson Zoo presently open for visitors?
Torturing animals just to pretend that Jackson is a real city is total Jackson.
I have been told repeatedly that the neighborhood needs the zoo.
Find the animals new homes in the Hattiesburg or Memphis zoos. That is, as long as they aren't carriers of some illness due to a criminal lack of care. Then bulldoze the land and put in a datacenter...with gun turrets.
It blends right into the community. Who would notice?
Years ago the zoo could had been saved by moving it to a better location by the children’s museum. Jackson leadership refused.
Maintaining itself as the murder capital.
Jackson is so poorly run. There is a brains drain in the city. Jackson will NEVER turn around
Tourist Bureau: "We may be the murder capital but we have a zoo."
That’s what I’m thinking. I hope they do for the animals welfare. Maybe PETA could get involved
2025 Mississippi Code 1972
Title 97 - Crimes (Chs. 1 - 49)
Chapter 41 - Cruelty to Animals (§§ 97-41-1 - 97-41-23)
§ 97-41-1. Living creatures not to be cruelly treated
Universal Citation:
MS Code § 97-41-1 (2025)
Except as otherwise provided in Section 97-41-16 for a dog or cat, if any person shall intentionally or with criminal negligence override, overdrive, overload, torture, torment, unjustifiably injure, deprive of necessary sustenance, food, or drink; or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate; or cause or procure to be overridden, overdriven, overloaded, tortured, unjustifiably injured, tormented, or deprived of necessary sustenance, food or drink; or to be cruelly beaten or needlessly mutilated or killed, any living creature, every such offender shall, for every offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
2025 Mississippi Code 1972
Title 97 - Crimes (Chs. 1 - 49)
Chapter 41 - Cruelty to Animals (§§ 97-41-1 - 97-41-23)
§ 97-41-2. Authority to seize maltreated, neglected, or abandoned animals
Universal Citation: MS Code § 97-41-2 (2025)
(1) All courts in the State of Mississippi may order the seizure of an animal by a law enforcement agency, for its care and protection upon a finding of probable cause to believe said animal is being cruelly treated, neglected or abandoned. Such probable cause may be established upon sworn testimony of any person who has witnessed the condition of said animal. The court may appoint an animal control agency, agent of an animal shelter organization, veterinarian or other person as temporary custodian for the said animal, pending final disposition of the animal pursuant to this section. Such temporary custodian shall directly contract and be responsible for any care rendered to such animal, and may make arrangements for such care as may be necessary. Upon seizure of an animal, the law enforcement agency responsible for removal of the animal shall serve notice upon the owner of the animal, if possible, and shall also post prominently a notice to the owner or custodian to inform such person that the animal has been seized. Such process and notice shall contain a description of the animal seized, the date seized, the name of the law enforcement agency seizing the animal, the name of the temporary custodian, if known at the time, and shall include a copy of the order of the court authorizing the seizure.
(2) Within five (5) days of seizure of an animal, the owner of the animal may request a hearing in the court ordering the animal to be seized to determine whether the owner is able to provide adequately for the animal and is fit to have custody of the animal. The court shall hold such hearing within fourteen (14) days of receiving such request. The hearing shall be concluded and the court order entered thereon within twenty-one (21) days after the hearing is commenced. Upon requesting a hearing, the owner shall have three (3) business days to post a bond or security with the court clerk in an amount determined by the court to be sufficient to repay all reasonable costs sufficient to provide for the animal’s care. Failure to post such bond within three (3) days shall result in forfeiture of the animal to the court. If the temporary custodian has custody of the animal upon the expiration of the bond or security, the animal shall be forfeited to the court unless the court orders otherwise.
(3) In determining the owner’s fitness to have custody of an animal, the court may consider, among other matters:
(a) Testimony from law enforcement officers, animal control officers, animal protection officials, and other witnesses as to the condition the animal was kept in by its owner or custodian.
(b) Testimony and evidence as to the type and amount of care provided to the animal by its owner or custodian.
(c) Expert testimony as to the proper and reasonable care of the same type of animal.
(d) Testimony from any witnesses as to prior treatment or condition of this or other animals in the same custody.
(e) Violations of laws relating to animal cruelty that the owner or custodian has been convicted of prior to the hearing.
(f) Any other evidence the court considers to be material or relevant.
Let's rename it the John Horne Zoo !
What, no alligators? No nutrea? No snapping turtles? About 10 domestic species numbering about 37 mammals and birds, in addition to thousands of rats, uncounted and presumed rat eating snakes, uncounted. Most of which can be seen dead on the highway or eating dead on the highway, without risk a car jacking or a bullet to see this fake Zoo in West Jackson. BTW, those zoo rats and droppings and affected animals need to be tested/treated for:
Hanta Virus
Lepto Spirosis
Salmonellosis
Rat Bite Fever
LymphoCyticChlorioMeningitis Virus.
A prominent image of John H. as a one "Horhned" Unicorn in the murals, if he advances public financing for this fake zoo.
John Horhn blind spot.
Yes. When does this cross over to criminal conduct?
I would challenge Mayor Horne to personally inspect his zoo. But not in n official capacity w/ entourage, no. But as a resident w/ his family with him. If he cares at all...
Already!
A few city council meetings ago, President Vernon Hartley, said the animals were being well taken care of and that wasn't a concern. So what does the city council have to say now? How about the assistant director? Where is he? What's he got to say? How bout the new animal care manager?
We have an Attorney General. Why doesn't she go after this awful mistreatment of helpless animals? Oh, I forgot, she's too busy trying to put police officers in jail ! But seriously a Jackson resident needs to bring it to light and put her on the spot.
Close it down. Jackson is the last city on planet earth that should be allowed to have a zoo.
NASTY, but is “our” zoo.
Animal Cruelty! Shut! It! Down!!
Every time in business when things got slow, we always cut cost to the bone. The city should close the zoo, sell the Convention Center, Stop the bridge over Lakeland. That is just three things.
Put Andy Gipson on it!
"Fuzzy black organic material". The Shadow Knows!
Good question - Don't expect an answer.
"Any living creature"? Bullshit. Living creatures include worms, minnows, crickets, fish, deer, rabbit, quail, dove, possum, turtle, spiders, wasps....sheesh, the list is long.
The next time an industrial prospect visits the city and requests to be taken to the museums, Thalia Mara, the larger churches in town and the zoo, will Stokes or Madam Doctor Chief escort the prospect's team?
@4:07 you are absolutely correct.
@5:11 PETA is a left wing organization they do not go after democrats and socialist. They couldn't care less about the animals at the Jackson Zoo.
city has already admitted they can't run the planetarium, and turned it's operations over to the MMA......they need to admit they can no longer run a zoo, and shut it down. Continuing to keep those animals there is wrong. Zoo's are destination experiences, and our zoo used to be one of the best, and it is profoundly no longer anything that can be described as a zoo.
***Lakeland drive bridge has nothing to do with this, but, the trail system has a dedicated and growing user group, and proven that an amenity like that is desirable, and I also think we are about to see Smith Wills and the park and LeFluers be re-porpused
Zoo needs to be closed and tell Vernon Hartley he had his chance. His ward can not afford the zoo nor can the City of Jackson.. Draw a line strait down Hanging Moss, Northwest Street and Galatin Street. Call Governor and Hinds County Board tell them Jackson needs to be reincorporated as West and South Jackson have no tax base to support themselves.
Too bad Republicans don't have the balls to use the law. They're too scared of being called racist.
This is very sad!
if anyone is wondering why the USDA isnt doing anything. It’s because the usual suspect race hustler shakedown artists filed numerous lawsuits against the USDA accusing the agency of racial discrimination. This has created a blind-eye culture at the USDA when dealing with the purpetual victim demographic.
Should have been closed years ago ! Why is it still open !
The real crime is that the ANIMALS HAVEN'T BEEN REMOVED. Or I should say SAVED .
So, City of Jackson has to cut its budget by $25 million and no one suggested closing the zoo? Instead of losing police and fire department employees and equipment, cut the zoo? No one?
Because it's Jackson and nothing ever gets done until it's a crisis requiring other people's money to bail it out or repair the damage done. Or both.
The zoo conditions are animal cruelty and a health hazard. If not PETA, then what government agency or organization can do the right thing and rescue those animals?
5:04 for the win.
"If not PETA, "
PETA used to show up on Capitol Street, get "neck'd" and protest fur coats or some goofy agenda.
That group does not care about real animal abuse.
The zoo has two Southern Screamers?
Who knew?
Shout out to Sister R and her convict brother!
This is heartbreaking for all the animals, but the monkeys really slay it. If you have ever had the opportunity to befriend a monkey, they are SO aware of everything and very much like people. Housing them in these inhumane conditions is like putting someone in a horrific jail cell without cause or way to escape. Breaks my heart. The other animals deserve a decent environment, also. Please make it stop.
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