To the Editor:

How many times do the roadside zoos in Cherokee have to be cited for violations of federal law before the Tribal Council slams their doors shut once and for all?

The three decrepit zoos keep bears in concrete pits and pens without even a blade of grass or patch of dirt. Other animals exist in cramped cages that harken back to the 1950s. Even a cursory internet search shows that the Cherokee Zoo has been cited for multiple issues, including failing to provide animals veterinary care and for unsafe enclosures. Now, a tiger cub was provided an inadequate diet, leaving him underweight and vulnerable to illness.

No one who cares about animals should buy a ticket to these roadside zoos. And the Cherokee Tribal Council should stop pretending that these cruel displays are worthy of their backing.

Leslie Armstrong

Asheville