Dear Frankie,
My family lives on a farm in Texas. This year, we went on vacation to New York City.
I had never been to a big city and was astounded when I saw dogs on leashes and running around in parks for dogs. I had never been walked on a leash, and I’m not sure if I even own one.
When we visited the Bronx Zoo, the lions were in cages. They didn’t seem to care or notice us when we approached their cage. They were listless and didn’t appear to be very happy. Are all zoos like the one in New York City?
Luna
Dear Luna,
All zoos confine their animals in enclosures. Many humans would say that keeping animals in captivity is unethical and psychologically harmful to their physical and mental health. Animal activists believe wild animals should live freely in their natural habitat. They are also opposed to using animals for entertainment and money-making attractions. I can’t say I disagree.
As for dogs on leashes and dog parks, cities don’t have much open space. They are crowded with people, cars, buses, and trucks.
The dog parks offer the dogs a safe place to run and socialize with fellow canines. The leashes protect dogs from getting lost on crowded streets and injured in traffic.
Dogs in cities don’t live as freely as dogs like yourself. City dogs, however, don’t know any other life, and from the letters I get from canines from the Big Apple, it seems to work just fine for them.
Best, Frankie
© 2024 Geneva Woodruff
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