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FeedGlittering7069 t1_je94owr wrote

Go to Dew in Mount Vernon Lions, Tigers, Bears, kangaroos, monkeys, wolves, panthers. They were on Animal Planet. My camp is in the area. Close interactive with the animals. Way better for kids. My son loves it! Animals are well taken care of

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AmbitiousInitial8961 t1_je9qf1k wrote

Won't ever go to DEW again. We have been multiple times, used to live near the area. I find the enclosures - while bigger than York - to be too small and just dirt. It basically looks like a run down farm that somebody put wild animals at without cleaning up the place. The owner comes across as unbalanced and doesn't know how to properly relate with customers. Was on a tour with a group of young girl scouts and had him going off on this experiences in war (sounded like he was talking about Vietnam) and interactions with "stupid animal lovers" (which turned out to be scientists with animal behavior degress) who don't actually know anything they are talking about while he knows how to take care of all his animals. I'm not saying he doesn't love them or he is intentionally treating them badly, but loving something and doing the right thing do not always go together.

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eljefino t1_jecm4dr wrote

I went there with my 4 year old kid and his preschool. Good enough time-- saw a tiger pee through the fence on a tourist-- but the staff were a bit rude. I was standing by the "exit" while waiting for the rest of our party to come out and they yelled at me for reentering (by a few feet). It was obvious I had paid along with everyone else.

Also depending on when you go (or not) you'll want to wear mosquito netting. The bugs, not necessarily mosquitoes, are insane.

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knupaddler t1_je9anbl wrote

that surprises me, it used to have the reputation i'm learning york's has now

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They_said_Maine t1_je9v9tv wrote

Dew Haven has worked to scrub that reputation by marketing themselves as an animal rescue sanctuary, when in reality they actively breed and buy/sell the exotic wildlife that they display.

They have been repeatedly investigated and cited for the conditions at the facility. I wouldn't recommend Dew Haven or York's.

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Kangabolic t1_je9el2j wrote

Been going to Dew for well over a decade. I’ve never heard nor would affirm a rumor the animals there were unhappy/treated poorly. It’s a great place. The owner can come across a little coarse but he definitely cares about those animals more than anything.

York has always been underwhelming.

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knupaddler t1_je9kwff wrote

i've never been there myself, so anything i think i know about the place is secondhand. but i grew up nearby (before they moved and before they had a tv show) and heard unsettling stories from people with personal experiences, including volunteers. i know they used to get raided by game wardens and eventually were forced to relocate because of health hazards. and then there was this: https://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/03/animal-planet-yankee-jungle-reality-canceled/

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