Pets are family, not food: Why this Danish zoo’s predator donations sends a dangerous message

A zoo in Denmark recently caused a stir—and for good reason.

It issued a ‘natural’’ request: Animals nearing the end of their lives, or otherwise, could be donated to serve as food for carnivores like lions, tigers, and European lynx.

According to the zoo’s website, these animals are ‘gently euthanised’ by trained staff before being offered to predators to support what the zoo calls a natural, circular diet. “This way, nothing goes to waste,” the zoo claims. “And we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition, and well-being for our predators.”

The initiative includes animals like horses (provided they haven’t had recent medical treatment), rabbits, chickens, and guinea pigs. The zoo even notes that there may be a waiting list—because ‘our needs vary throughout the year.’

Let that sink in: Your former pet may be placed on hold to become a future meal.

Animals, not ornaments

The post was disturbing enough to read twice. Was it true? Was something being lost in translation?

But no, it was very real. The message, cloaked in logic and naturalism, essentially said: if you don’t need your animal anymore, donate it as food. It's suffocating to even think of it. However ‘well-intentioned’ the program may seem, it reflects a deeper, more troubling narrative: One that treats animals not as companions or family, but as disposable objects, useful until they no longer serve a purpose.

And that’s a horrifying problem, reflecting a sense of callous indifference to your pets. It's not a transactional relationship. Your pets aren’t gifts to be passed on, not souvenirs to be discarded when you leave a country, and definitely not meat to be handed over when they become old or inconvenient.

They aren’t ornaments.

They aren’t props.

They aren’t Plan B.

A world built around you

My own dog is a rescue, traumatised, fearful, still flinching around strangers. She only trusts us.

When we’re away, she panics. Earlier, she almost injured herself in an anxiety spiral.

Her entire world is built around us.

And that’s what makes the idea of donation-for-disposal so horrifying: What if she had ended up with someone who decided she wasn’t worth keeping in her final days?

What if someone broke that trust—simply because it was easier?

They trust us with everything. They rely on us as their entire world.

So how could we ever turn around and hand them over for a violent end, after promising them love?

So, before you get a pet, ask yourself this

This isn’t just about one zoo. It’s about a mindset. It’s about how casually we treat the lives of creatures who give us everything in return.

So here’s what needs to be said:

• Don’t get a pet unless you’re sure. Not ‘maybe,’ not ‘we’ll see.’ If there’s any doubt, don’t do it.

•  Think long-term. Can you care for them till the very end—vet bills, aging, relocation and all?

• If you must part ways, do it responsibly. Rehome with compassion. Make sure they’re safe, loved, and understood.

You owe them that much. At the very least.

They will grow old with you.

Make sure you’re there when they do.