Petting zoo animals at Pride event die after farm receives anonymous anti-LGBTQ email | CBC News

London police are investigating the deaths of two animals and the potential sickness of a 3rd after they had been on show at a petting zoo for kids at a weekend Pride event in London. 

Two rodents — a Patagonian Cavy named Bean and a guinea pig named Cashew — died, and a goat named Apollo is being monitored for signs at the farm, stated Bethany Tout, the proprietor of Little Hobby Hill Farm, an animal sanctuary and therapeutic farm. 

The animals had been all housed in the identical pen at the Oakridge Optimist Community Park on Saturday.

“I’m really hoping that it’s not true that someone did this. I really hate to think that someone would do this intentionally,” Tout instructed CBC News.

A autopsy on the guinea pig might be executed in Guelph to find out the reason for loss of life, Tout stated. “That can take a couple of days, but I am hoping it’s quick so we can have answers.” 

Several days earlier than the Saturday event, Tout bought an anonymous email to the Little Hobby Hill Farm account expressing disappointment that her enterprise was concerned with the Pride event. 

“Pride has no relation to a petting zoo and there is no reason to conjoin these … Please consider your events and what you support,” the email reads. The message, in its entirety, has been seen by CBC News.

“I can confirm we are aware of the incident, and we are investigating the occurrence,” stated London police Const. Matt Dawson. “It is active and ongoing.”

A City of London spokesperson stated officers there are additionally conscious of the incident. Necropsies might be executed at the University of Guelph to find out the reason for loss of life of the animals, their proprietor stated. 

“It’s been a traumatic 48 hours for a lot of people,” stated Oakridge Pride organizer Brianna Phelan. “The (Patagonian Vacy) started having seizures. It had 10 seizures. [It was taken] to the emergency vet where it was put down. Then on Sunday, the guinea pig died, and the goat got really sick.”

Despite the uncertainty of how the animals died, Phelan stated it’s unsettling, particularly at a time when London Police say hate crimes towards LGBTQ individuals are on the rise.

“Every year we’ve had issues with protesters, or people contesting the event, but this year there was nothing. It was extremely quiet, almost to the point of being unsettling,” stated Phelan. “Then, the petting zoo received an email.”

She stated she has reached out to the Ontario Poison Centre, anxious in regards to the kids who had been with the animals and enjoying round their pens. 

“[My grandchildren] were right down on their hands and knees on the grass,” attendee Lori Ward stated. “Make sure that your children aren’t feeling sick or your animals that may have been at Pride aren’t feeling unwell.”

Ward is encouraging folks to look by means of their movie footage to see if something seems to be suspicious.

Whatever occurred, Tout stated she’s going to proceed to convey her animals to Pride occasions. “We’ll take precautions but it won’t deter me from participating,” she stated.