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I get that response a lot ;) LOL. Yeah, I met an American back home and we moved to Seattle together (which was like a Diet Coke version of the US for me, although I was still in culture shock). I had no idea what I was getting into when I moved to Dallas. (!!) I take a 2 week sanity trip to Amsterdam every year and I know I won't be living in Dallas for the rest of my life; that's for sure! :)

Scott, Yes, practically yesterday (year and a half ago) It doesn't help that I'm from Amsterdam either. Not saying we don't stereotype there, but I suppose the gay community is a little less bitchy; there's still drama, but I've never heard of a bar owner out diva-ing a drag queen ;)

Sure, I've had bartenders and grocery folk alike do a double-take on my ID, because of change in hair length and color. Shoot, my Dutch passport still lists my height as being 10 cm. shorter than I am (and the border control folks always ask about that; for the record, it was something that was never changed on a teenaged to adult passport change).

But all of those things are technicalities, really. In the end, no matter how tall I am, or what color lenses your daughter wears, or what kind of make-up a transsexual is wearing; if you frequent a bar frequently enough, the staff knows who you are.

Momzilla, you have a great point here! I spent my residential field studies in a TINY town in Wales. Even though it was really rural and a small community, there were three pubs (hello, it was Wales!). Each pub had a "Sh*te List" of INDIVIDUALS that were banned for totally unacceptable behavior (different at each pub, mind) There is no need to generalize and ban every transgender or transsexual, because some of them can't play nice in a bar. I opt for the Welsh solution; ban individuals, not a whole group.

Wow. So it's alright to ban and ask an entire "group" of people to leave your establishment just because some members of a "group" have bad attitudes? C5an you picture the uproar this would cause if it were about anything but gender preference? i.e.

"Hey, you're Asian, and some Asians can't hold their liquor and misbehave, so I'm going to ban all Asians from this bar!"

I seriously thought Dallas was beyond that kind of thing. Guess I was wrong. Just another reason I almost regret moving here :(

A++ post, Kellymac1! I agree that Oakland and NC Zoo are both fine institutions. But you seriously don't have to go as far as Mexico to see sick, stray dogs roaming the streets. Have you been near Fair Park lately? There are entire packs of sick, stray dogs that attack the local turtles as well as other people's pets. The fact that there are bad shelters and stray dogs in Mexico says nothing about the particular park we are talking about.

I fear that a number of people with very radical views towards zoos are using this most unfortunate situation as a tool for their propaganda of grossly misrepresenting the very great work being done by many zoos and the AZA alike to fit their own agenda (just look at Jus3kewl and his sudden and unnecessary insults on this discussion). Wasn't this supposed to be about Jenny?

And while the USDA can enforce laws, the laws you are talking about are very basic. Reputable zoos go far beyond any USDA law in their care of animals. And yes, that includes Oakland, NC Zoo, but also the Dallas Zoo.

First of all, no one is saying that the A.Z.A is the ultimate authority on animal husbandry. Greg Hudson is not claiming that the A.Z.A. is the ultimate "word" on animal husbandry. But it's "a word" and they really aren't as lax as some folks have made them out to be. Their standards are actually quite high, and their inspections brutal which is why not every single Zoo or Aquarium in this country is accredited. Sure, they don't immediately remove accredidation for a violation upon inspection, but they do expect it fixed - and if it is not in the given time frame - an institution WILL lose their accredidation.

What do we know about this "Sanctuary" except for emotional pleas put out by people who have never been there and probably know nothing much about the Dallas Zoo or the A.Z.A.?? Really? What do we know? It is not open to the public. How qualified are their keepers? Why don't they have a full time veterinary doctor on payroll? What happens when all their animals get sick? What medical care will the animals get? What happens when their donors are feeling the economic crunch and no longer make donations? Really? Do we know any of these answers?

It makes me wonder if the proponents of this sanctuary are opponents of mainstream zoological institutions altogether.

Why are they so eager to discount the A.Z.A and the Dallas Zoo for a place that the citizens of Dallas know nothing about, could never visit and a third party organization could not criticize?

And why are so many people assuming anything in MEXICO is bad and evil and sub-standard, just because it happens to be located in Mexico? We can actually visit this institution in Mexico, but we cannot visit the sanctuary. Aren't you suspicious of any place that will not let you view the animal? I sure am! A camera is NOT the same. Jenny, the elephant, belongs to the citizens of Dallas. She is an ambassador to her species and yes, she belongs to all of us and some folks have an inherent dislike to animals being "owned", but really, that is what the reality is. She will go on loan at a facility that has been approved by the major zoological association in the United States, as well as highly Senior Animal Staff of the Dallas Zoo. In Mexico, she would get the care (medical and otherwise) that she needs, and would be able to return to the citizens of Dallas when adequate enclosure (which is already planned and being prepared) is available.