Waddles'n'Wags Zoological Haven Inc.

17/03/2025

Hey folks.

Just a quick note to let our followers know that we were definitely NOT shut down. We closed last year after realizing there was a political agenda by animal rights extremists to eradicate all non government facilities owning exotic animals. These AR activists are working towards us not owning anything. Pretty soon it will be your dogs and cats they're taking.

This recent news explosion came from yet another attack on our already closed facility. This time we tried to appeal and fight back but as you've read we were unsuccessful. Everyone is. They make it impossible to win.

To reiterate, NOT shut down for cruelty to anything. The PAWS act needs to be edited. The rules are ambiguous and subject to opinion.

Copied from the PAWS act:
“distress” means the state of being,
(a) in need of proper care, water, food or shelter,
(b) injured, sick, in pain or suffering, or
(c) abused or subject to undue physical or psychological hardship, privation or neglect; (“détresse”)

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/190444
This is the website for seeing the definition of Standards of Care for Animals. Again, zero specifics. Up to the person inspecting the animals if their ideas of what it means are met.

Nothing describing enclosure sizes, required lighting, size of water dishes, fence height, etc, etc. Look around you. Did your cats finish their food? Use the litterbox? Empty their water dish? If an inspector walked in right now those things would be contrary to the Act.

We looked up AZA rules for enclosures and built to specificity.
Example: kinkajous need 12ft height and 175 sq ft per pair. We built a pen 400 sq ft for our 3.

Unfortunately, most of the animals we rescued do not yet have an AZA file. So we had no measurements but our animals showed no stereotypies (Stereotypies are repetitive, seemingly purposeless movements or sounds that can be involuntary and often rhythmic) or zoochosis (Zoochosis is a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos) and were healthy and friendly; so we did something right for 18 plus years.

When asked for specifics of what they wanted in order to return animals on appeal we were told "we aren't here to build your zoo for you".

Now how on earth is anyone supposed to meet the judgment of whatever official is on their property when its up to that official to decide the rules for that day?

This animal needs 2 water bowls. Not the one that's full, 2.
These animals need 2 houses, in case they argue.
This animal needs more varied toys/furnishings.
This animal peed on its furnishings, the cage is filthy.
There are cobwebs in the enclosure, it's filthy.
There are cobwebs and dust in the barn, clean it.

We were given the guidelines that PAWS follows for keeping rabbits.
PAWS said rabbits should not have wire floors.
The book says they should, with a resting board of course.
PAWS said rabbits need nest boxes.
The book says only females within a few days of having babies. What do we do?

We are just glad that they waited to pull this stuff on us until after Aunt Les passed away. It would have devastated her, as it has us.

Please leave the nasty comments in your head. This post is just for our followers and those that loved our animals as much as we did so they know what happened.

21/03/2024

Our first event of the year was wonderful. A big thank you to the families in Madawaska for their patience, eagerness to learn, and gentleness with our animals. Now if only we'd had a mic so Kim's voice didn't disappear for the next week. Something for the wish list!

We are going to be here for a few more years to come. Keep watch here for dates and times, and any changes or announcements. Please feel free to PM with any questions you may have. Hopefully 2024 is a great year for everyone!

30/10/2023

Hey folks.

*edit* For the love of all that's holy, people, we put pictures up to show you a work in progress. If you have nothing nice to say, zip it. Please.

So I sat up all night writing a very long story, detailing our time since Aunt Les passed away. I'm not sure I want to post it yet as we still don't have answers as to what happened.

Yes they came for what we were told was a regular inspection, we have 2 per year, plus visits if people complain about our animals. Instead it was a warrant issued to search our house, barns, sheds, etc. For some of the things they had asked to be done we just didn't have the time to complete, in the time they allotted.

Yes they took some of our animals until we comply with whatever they order, we don't know yet.
Please note, SOME of our animals. We still don't know why some were taken, it's a complete mystery as their enclosures were spotless, etc.

Myself and my daughter Violet are deciding what to do for us, our animals, and the future of Waddles'n'Wags. Today is the day we find out what their reasons were, what we need to do to get our animals back, what the cost will be as they're charging us board since Wednesday; we have no idea how much board. At least we hope it's today. The bill is piling up and we have NO clue how much per day or what to do to stop it. Oh, we were told if we just let them keep the animals we don't pay for board anymore. So there's that.

As promised, some pictures of the indoor enclosures that we've been working on to be ready to open for winter visits. The living room has never looked so cool. The Master bedroom has passed the Adams family stage of disarray and is getting there.

29/10/2023

Quick update.

Giz has been seen on trail cams near Lenser road. We have set a live trap near the can most recently seeing him.

Fingers crossed friends!

27/10/2023

Hey all.

Thank you for your support this year. Having our Aunt Lesley die just before opening was devastating and we have spent most of the season closed while we rebuild, redo, repaint, new buildings, etc. Her fondest wish was that we improve what we have had here for 18 years and carry on bravely.

So Gizmo.
He's a beautiful serval who was given to us in the spring because he had no proper socialization as a kitten before his owners got him and while he was super friendly with cats, dogs, he was never friendly with his humans. He didn't attack anyone, he just hissed and went away.

We were moving Gizmo to his winter enclosure because he didn't appreciate the colder weather approaching. Our female serval actually loves the snow, she gets really grumpy when we bring her in as temps approach too low and she gets bedding instead of the fun white stuff.

Giz got spooked in his carry crate and slammed against the door, the latch broke, he fell to the ground and hit the ground running. Scared himself silly. If you've been here and seen the length of the legs on a serval we had no hope of catching him.

So we've been told that some hunter saw him on a trail cam and instead of letting anyone know, except hunter friends, they got their guns and went hunting. I'm assuming they didn't kill him because there's been no report of such. If you get even a glimpse of him, please call us right away. The only time he could be coaxed into getting mean with a human is if you try and offer him raw chicken. His favourite food, then rabbit. So please don't try and catch him yourselves.

The misinformation flying around and the hate towards us is insane. One of the people being vocal asked us if they could take some of our small critters home for the winter months, when we were closed, and enjoy them, work with them, etc. That person never returned our animals.

Next.

Our preparations to open for the winter months are going famously. There are pictures of the indoor section that's mostly done and ready. Just 2 rooms left to finish. And the new barn is halfway up. :)
New fencing for the wallabies is done, Putting a heat lamp into their house since they're from Tennessee and while Bennett's wallabies are okay down to -15 or so, we don't want to do that to the new Americans on the block.

Back to the Gizmo thing, we have actually been threatened with bodily harm at this point. This goes too far. People have also said they would come and steal animals, open enclosures, set them free to “SAVE” them from us. Our property is closed and monitored at this point. Hopefully the haters will find something else to hate and when we re-open in a month or so they'll stay away.

Again, thank you to all our followers. :) See you soon!

Stand by for the picture post. Our internet here in the woods won't download the images at the moment. Have a pic of one of our singing dog horde sleeping in my hammock this morning. :D

18/10/2023

Hello all.

We are working diligently and hope to be able to open for winter visits in about a month. These pictures are the newest residents at Waddles'n'Wags.

Arrival day in the crates, and then a couple of pics of them lazing about watching the new humans.

We are currently closed to visitors, of course, until we can finish the indoor new building.

Hope everyone is having a great fall!

20/09/2023

Well we're finally allowed to break silence as the trailer for the movie is out!

Our big alligator, "Mosquito", along with a friend of his "Darth Gator" from another facility were hired to be actors in a movie coming out on November 10th.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FfuIoByKKL38%3Fsi%3DEuz4LcXwWQEdKzMR&h=AT0p99OzilNPXKjNTkD-NYGL42g6oVe4IurX2pUzUJW-7JdgglCY3J0o5nAhbtAwq_8ym2udzRPwW7GwPTIh6bsMsK1dJTgw_ASCL-9BKpae80cKqxys6xTRx0meFnngao3ySCLpkFVp&s=1
Really kind of cool to see our guy on film :)

Check out the official trailer for Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage! ► Sign up for a Fandango FanAlert for Dream Scenario: https://www.fandango.com/dream...

05/09/2023

Hey again.
Forgot to ask a favour of our followers.

As of December 31, 2023, wild boars are no longer allowed to be owned by Ontario farms. They have been designated as invasive species and we were told by the MNR that they had to be gone by the end of this year.

Our guy, Uruk, is a neutered boy. Very friendly. He gets along with our unfixed male pig and all the girls. He's never tried to harm a chicken or rabbit that wandered into their enclosure. We would like for him to find a home where he can continue to be a pet. If you know of anyone in a nearby province that wants him, please get in touch.

He cannot go to any placement in Ontario because of the new law.

05/09/2023

School is in! As a result we are going to switch back to appointment based booking because we get very few people visiting from Monday to Friday once school starts, so we end up sitting around waiting. Appointments are easier. :)

We had one call so far this year reporting us to PAWS so besides our regular seasonal inspection we had one extra inspection to assess the caller's concerns. Our animals are fine.

Our new office/souvenir shop was a great success so far this year. Thank you to everyone who has visited so far. It's kinda fun to have debit/credit availability and to source the souvenirs that match the animals we have here. Pictures of the inside of the new building are attached.

So we had to put Conga, the giant tortoise, in the kinkajou enclosure because he has reached 120lbs and keeps trying to run over visitors and just be generally bossy. Put him in the nice safe enclosure with wired floor underground so no predators can dig in, and what does our walking bulldozer do? Digs up the wire floor and builds himself a cave to sleep in at night. Ah, for the love of animals!

Lastly for now, we are still hoping to be able to open by appointment for the winter months this year. We have a lot of beautiful animals that aren't outside during the summer for various reasons.

16/08/2023

We are having a great time so far in this short season for us. The new office is open with some really nice souvenir stuffies and things.

Still hoping to be able to be open during the winter months, that's coming together.

Just a quick note for today, Wednesday the 16th, we will be LATE opening. Some appointments can't happen after we close at 6pm. :)

Couple of serval pictures for you. First 2 are Karina, proving that no matter the cat, a box (bucket) is a good spot. Third is our new boy, Gizmo, in the middle of a good head shake.

06/08/2023

We had a wonderful open house day. Off to a late start but it was a great one. Alas one thing marred the perfect day and that happened afterwards.

Our very friendly cat that always came outside to greet guests and let them snuggle with him, Havoc, went over the bridge without us. He has always been a sickly fellow, bad lungs, and he was 13 years old. He passed in his sleep on a pile of clean laundry.

RIP Grue, 2010 - 2023.

05/08/2023

Remember everyone,

Open House tomorrow, Saturday, August 5th, 2023!

We are late opening for quite a few reasons but this weekend was to be Aunt Les' open house 85th birthday celebration. Because she passed away in April we decided to do the open house in her honour and to celebrate Lesley Tuck, force of nature and the backbone of Waddles'n'Wags.

Admission is by donation only.
We will be open from 10am to 6pm.
We will not be conducting private tours as we are hoping for a big turnout and will not have the time to take everyone around personally.

Hope to see you here!

PS. We will be open regular hours for the rest of the season. Noon to 6pm, 7 days a week.