PETA has successfully pressured an Australian university into canceling a scheduled petting zoo that would have allowed students to unwind while studying for exams.
The ABC reports the University of Canberra was preparing to host an event that featuring puppies and farm animals as a way to take a break from studying for exams. When PETA caught wind of the petting zoo, however, a PETA spokesperson contacted the university and demanded the event be canceled.
PETA spokesperson Emily Rice told the school, “A university campus is really no place for animals. It's noisy and boisterous.”
She said the petting zoo would be “terrifying” for the animals.
A university employee reportedly told Rice, “The university acknowledges your concerns and will in future look for alternate activities for our students as part of 'Stress Less Week.’”
Noah’s Ark Farm Friends, which would have provided the animals, told the Canberra Times she heard the school was “concerned about negative responses to having the petting zoo there on campus.”
Co-worker Cathy Rogers said, “It stinks that a group that's never ever approached me can just ban me off something like that, affect my business.”
UC vice chancellor Nick Klomp said from now on, the school will handle Stress Less Week “a little differently.”
“For example we might do something a little bit different, perhaps even bring your own pets to the campus, or something like that this year,” he said.
Thank you for supporting MRCTV! As a tax-deductible, charitable organization, we rely on the support of our readers to keep us running! Keep MRCTV going with your gift here!