Denmark is traditionally thought of as an erudite country, where jobs are plentiful and murders are few, but a recent request has some looking in askance because the Denmark Zoo is asking people to turn over their unwanted pets to become food.
The request came via the Aalborg Zoo's Facebook page, where they state that chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs are an important part of the diet of its predators, which need "whole prey," because it's what they would hunt in the wild.
Additionally, the zoo said it would accept animals animals as large as horses – which have the added benefit of acting as a tax deduction as a donation.
"If you have a healthy animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being for our predators," the Aalborg Zoo said.
Note that the zoo assured anyone who takes them up on the offer that the animal they turn in will be humanely euthanized by a vet professional before they're consumed as food.
Still, social media reaction was mixed, with many expressing disgust that any animal would be killed as prey. “Getting rid of you pet”???. They are not disposable, no matter how small. They are a responsibility. You are responsible for your pet, to help them thru this life safely and with dignity," Facebook user Kat Tyree Ford wrote.
On the other hand, Darryl Wilson wrote, "If you're going to put your animal down for some reason why not donate it to keep another animal alive?" while Alicia Turner chimed in, "Listen, realistically, I mean, isn’t it smarter to use one animals life to keep another one going especially if you’re already getting rid of your pet."
As for the locals, a translation shows that Horge Jorgensen wrote: "A deeply perverse and degrading mindset that is behind this sick invention, which has spread a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark and this only supports this sad underdevelopment. Imagine giving away your pet/animal as fodder, it hardly gets more disrespectful and unworthy than that..."