Can you guys give me some help?

[Crowley]

Hello Everyone –

My family has small PR firm in Florida and one of the clients they've been busting ass doing work for is the Palm Beach Zoo. It's the zoo I went to as a child, with a long proud tradition of being kind to animals and educating children.

But now, the Palm Beach Zoo is under attack by WPEC Channel 12-a CBS station. A story is going to air on Monday that is not fair. The allegations being made are not only false they are provably false. We need as many people as possible to rally around the zoo. Please go to the blog that has been set up and read the letter from Dr. Terry Maple, the CEO of the zoo. My family's company Immediacy would never stake its reputation on this if we did not believe this is false…but it is false thanks to an unhappy employee and a publicity-seeking extremist by the name of Russ Rector (think Rick Olney) out to do harm to the zoo. The Palm Beach Zoo is a wonderful place with incredibly caring animal handlers, techs, veterinarians and volunteers whose only mission is to give loving care to the many animals living at the zoo.

My dad (who was a political editor and reported for 30 years) did real leg and dug into the story and found the real facts behind the story that WPEC 12 is too lazy to bother reporting.

Please check out the link below become a friend, make a comment and show your support, I'd greatly appreciate it everybody!

http://www.palmbeachzoo.blogspot.com/

[dupont2005]

that sucks, but it would probably do good for your cause to actually say what the allegations are and how they are false. i did click the link and it is in there on the second post, but the first post just said allegations were being brought, a secretive attitude like that does not instill confidence in me. to me, it would be better if they had said someone was making false claims about their kitchen conduct and they are going to prove their innocence or something to that nature


but for the record, i do believe you since i assume even animal kitchens are subject to inspection. maybe not held to the standard of a restaurant but still held to some sort of standard, which i assume they met when they are inspected

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by dupont2005

that sucks, but it would probably do good for your cause to actually say what the allegations are and how they are false. i did click the link and it is in there on the second post, but the first post just said allegations were being brought, a secretive attitude like that does not instill confidence in me. to me, it would be better if they had said someone was making false claims about their kitchen conduct and they are going to prove their innocence or something to that nature


but for the record, i do believe you since i assume even animal kitchens are subject to inspection. maybe not held to the standard of a restaurant but still held to some sort of standard, which i assume they met when they are inspected

Here's the letter from the President of this Zoo:

Dear Friends of the Palm Beach Zoo:

You may be aware of a pending “investigative report” to be aired on WPEC Channel 12 in the coming days that makes disturbing claims about conditions in our commissary – the “kitchen” where animal food is prepared. I want to assure you that these claims are baseless and completely fabricated.

Our staff here at the Palm Beach Zoo is dedicated to the animals entrusted to our care and they take every precaution to ensure that animal food is fresh, clean, and nutritionally appropriate.

The report is based on the false claims of a disgruntled commissary manager who was terminated for her poor performance and for her role in collaborating with a known animal rights extremist whose stated goal is to “shut down the zoo.”

The report may claim that the commissary is infested with rats. This claim is strongly refuted by our animal management team, USDA inspectors, and Nozzle Nolen, the professional contractors who are responsible for controlling rodents and other pests on zoo property.

There is no objective evidence of rats in the commissary building.

The report may show photos of spoiled food in the commissary. These photos are intended to make you believe that tainted or moldy food is being fed to our animals. This is patently untrue.

Animal food is carefully stored and prepared, and any food that appears to be spoiled is discarded, just as it is in your kitchen at home.

No animal at this zoo has ever become ill as a result of poor-quality food.

The report may also claim that the commissary is dirty. In fact, we require that the commissary be cleaned daily, and no food is ever left on the floor to attract pests. While the commissary is located in a humble trailer, it is kept clean and orderly at all times.

Although Dr. Salvatore Zeitlin and I were interviewed by channel 12, I am concerned that this story will not be reported in a fair and balanced way. We believe this report and the sensationalized teaser campaign now being aired to promote it are intended to drive viewers to their newscast during a competitive “mini-sweeps” period.

You have my personal assurance that these false claims will be carefully and thoroughly refuted in the days to come.

Your visits to the zoo provide clear evidence of the superior health and welfare of our entire animal population. Our $5 million zoo hospital that opened on Earth Day is further testimony to our deep and abiding commitment to animal health and wellness.

Your continuing loyalty and your confidence in the Palm Beach Zoo team are deeply appreciated.

Terry L. Maple, Ph.D. President/CEO

[Crowley]

Russ Rector has made an appearance on the blog:

THE PIECE HASNT EVEN RUN AND YOU PEOPLE ARE RUNNING SCARED, I CAN SMELL THE FEAR FROM HERE. DONT WATCH CH 12! LMAO, YOU ALL WILL BE GLUED TO THE TV MONDAY NIGHT AND YOURE GOING TO BE FLOORED BY WHAT AND WHO YOU SEE ON CAMERA! THEN WE WILL SEE WHO LAUGHS LAST! AND I STII HAVE TO AGREE WITH VOLTAIRE AND THE BITCH LINE IS OPEN IF YOU GOT THE STONES!!!!!!! 954 830 3511 OPERATORS STANDING BY

I think he sounds like Olney and Jbolt combined... what say we give him a YABs hello?

[dupont2005]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Russ Rector has made an appearance on the blog:


I think he sounds like Olney and Jbolt combined... what say we give him a YABs hello?

i bet he texted that from his boost sidekick

[Gail Simone]

Done and done. I read up a little bit, and whatever else is true, the allegations don't seem to be repeated anywhere else, AND Russ Rector comes across as a genuine idiot attention-seeker who seems to have a thing against zoos.

That's fine, that's his business, but calling his detractors 'captivityphiles' indicates a strong motive and an obvious bias.

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

Done and done. I read up a little bit, and whatever else is true, the allegations don't seem to be repeated anywhere else, AND Russ Rector comes across as a genuine idiot attention-seeker who seems to have a thing against zoos.

That's fine, that's his business, but calling his detractors 'captivityphiles' indicates a strong motive and an obvious bias.

Thanks Gail!

I appreciate it greatly!

[Crowley]

More news reports about Russ Rector:

"I sort of created Russ Rector," (activist) Ric O'Barry says, unhappily. He hasn't done a thing since then except make a lot of noise. . .He's an egomaniac, a publicity junkie." Palm Beach Post, Sept. 5, 1994

(A hurricane) "should provide just enough extra water to push Miami Seaquarium's crocodiles over the wee walls of their concrete pens and into open water. This comes from Russ Rector, a disgruntled former dolphin handler. When that happens, Rector estimates that they will breed with native alligators to form indefatigable super-species: the croc-a-gator. Miami New Times, April 26, 2007.

Rector hired a plane to tow a "Lolita is Dying" banner over the Seaquarium..."They know she's dying, and they are removing her from everything," Rector said. Miami Herald, Feb. 20, 2006 (more than three years later Lolita is not dead).

"I'm not in the animal rights club" he said slamming both the Humane Society of the United States and PETA. Miami Herald, Dec. 3, 2003

A Sept. 8 letter to the White House: "Dear Mr. Vice President, I recently sent you a letter concerning two very relevant and pressing issues. . .Please don't try and placate me with the administration's animal rights positions, my letters have never mentioned those words...Do something now sir before this blows up and becomes a political nightmare!!!!!" Sun Sentinel, Sept. 26, 1993

Logging on, he clicks through a list of photographic scans, looking for the perfect gesture of goodwill for a favored journalistic contact. He settles on a scan titled "boobcrui.jpg" - a group portrait of 21 topless women photographed on a yatch - attaches it to an email, types in the header "PICK YOUR POISON," signs it with his usual "R/R" and clicks SEND chuckling. New Times, July 8, 1999

Rector's blowhard, in-your-face style has alienated more people than it has captivated. Palm Beach Post, Sept. 5 1994

[Gail Simone]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Thanks Gail!

I appreciate it greatly!

My posts are in the comments section under the latest entry on the link you sent.

What a loony!

[Gail Simone]

Originally Posted by Crowley

Thanks Gail!

I appreciate it greatly!

You should post that at that blog.

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

You should post that at that blog.

It;s up on the blog... My parents are posting that blog and doing the digging into the story that the reporter has refused to do:

http://palmbeachzoo.blogspot.com/2009/07/in-news.html

[Gail Simone]

It seems the complaints should go to the television station, shouldn't they?

[Crowley]

and What's up with this guy posting his phone number like it's Dial-A-Date?

Seems like some sad pathetic old man who wants someone to call him even if it's to scream at him.

[Crowley]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

It seems the complaints should go to the television station, shouldn't they?

My Dad has called the news director and the reporter multiple times and they've decided not to return his calls. It's a sweeps local TV ratings stunt.

He said he's never seen anything like it in the 30 years he's been reporting.

[Gail Simone]

Originally Posted by Crowley

My Dad has called the news director and the reporter multiple times and they've decided not to return his calls. It's a sweeps local TV ratings stunt.

He said he's never seen anything like it in the 30 years he's been reporting.

But do they have contact info or a website?

If enough people complain, they'll change their tune.