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The Griffith Park Pony Rides and Petting Zoo operation is closing its doorways for good, it appears, after the City minimize ties — and the proprietor is blaming activists who’ve been on his ass.
Steve Weeks — who’s been working the place for years now — broke the information this weekend on Facebook, writing … “It is with a lot unhappiness that I announce that Griffith Park Pony Rides can be ceasing operations December 21, 2022. I’ve obtained a letter from Los Angeles Recreation and Parks stating that our contract won’t be renewed.”
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He provides, “After 74 years serving the youngsters and oldsters of Los Angeles, this iconic establishment can be closed without end by order of the City.”
Weeks says it is a direct results of extremists who’ve been protesting his institution for months, explaining … “You have all adopted our combat in opposition to these few radical animal rights activists. Despite our yr lengthy combat to reply the unfaithful statements of those people, our efforts weren’t heard. This was the town choice and never the horse rides alternative.”
As for what’s to develop into of all of the animals there — which entail far more than simply the ponies themselves — Weeks says he is trying to relocate them now. He writes, “In the times forward I can be looking for without end houses for our many ponies. I’m decided to search out houses for our ponies with certified horsepeople who will care as a lot about our ponies as I do. If you have an interest in provding a house please message me.”
GPPR has been open since 1948, and was a staple attraction for Los Angeles-area households for a very long time. Kids might journey their ponies round their stables and monitor — they usually had been in a position to rise up shut and private with different livestock, like goats, sheep, bunnies, and so on.
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In latest months, the institution has been beneath siege by demonstrators and different events who’ve accused the homeowners of mistreating the animals by forcing them to offer rides in excessive warmth in the course of the summer time — amongst different claims of alleged animal abuse … all of which Griffith Park Pony Rides has denied.
This even bought to the L.A. City Council, who ordered a evaluate of their enterprise. It appears they discovered one thing was amiss, ‘trigger they’re closing the place down — apparently without end.