This post was sparked by a Twitter conversation with @johncass.

When I first read the following “Breaking News Alert” from Boston.com, I knew it was a PR move.

“The Franklin Park Zoo may be forced to close its doors and possibly euthanize some of its animals as a result of the deep budget cuts imposed by Governor Deval Patrick, zoo officials said today.”

I don’t, for a minute, believe that the zoo would be forced to euthanize any of it’s animals. I think it’s a unethical PR tactic aimed to reach out to the general public and appeal to their love of animals and disdain for euthanizing them, to encourage the public to take political action against the budget cuts.

First of all, euthanization is only a possibility and seems to be highly unlikely since many animals can be shipped off to other zoos and PETA has already offered to do everything we could to help place the animals in appropriate sanctuaries and accredited zoos.

Once that’s removed from the argument, there aren’t many logical reasons to keep the zoo open. Times are tough, the economy is suffering and we have to make as many non-essential cuts as possible.

Zoos provide education and entertainment, yes. But are they essential? No.

So when the budget needs to be cut, there are tough choices to be made. Do we cut funding for law enforcement, education, services for the needy, and other essential services or do we cut millions of dollars in public funding for a zoo.

Don’t get me wrong, I like animals. I have been to zoos, but the better part of me thinks it’s a little cruel to cage wild animals for the education and entertainment of humans. If the public cares so much for animals, one would think they’d be against zooing animals – not championing the public funding for this cruely.

Here’s the bottom line. Zoos are a non-essential services and non-essential services should be cut before essential services that fulfill Massachusetts residents’ basic needs, which, as illustrated in Maslow’s heirarchy of needs, include food, water, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and personal and financial security.

Let’s put our effort into saving the humans first, so they can then take care of animals. It’s like they say on an airplane – be sure to secure your own safety mask before attempting to assist your fellow passengers.