Dear Maryellen: Oh, please, dearie. Just how long are the reindeer at Chalet - not long enough for them to graze, seek mates and raise their young simultaneously. Go watch the charming Christmas movie, "Prancer," and take a nap. A long nap. When kids can see reindeer close up - it makes them appreciate them and keep their real habitat pristine - also go read "The Life of Pi," which explains this. Judy B.

I believe that what the author is saying is that if reindeer are at places like the parking lot of Chalet they obviously can't do what comes natural to them. I don't know what that is but grazing, seeking mates and raising young all sound reasonable to me. Should that be sacrificed in the name of holiday decorations especially when living conditions are poor? But a good question has been inadvertently brought up...Where do these reindeer go when not at Chalet? Maybe some research needs to be done.
I also believe that the author is not particularly concerned that a child sees a caged reindeer up close and personal. it seems she is more interested in the well being of the animal. Whether I agree or not, I applaud anyone who fights for what they believe in and who looks out for those that can't look out for themselves. To suggest this person take a long nap is mean and wrong. Richard A.

Dear Richard: In their natural habitat - besides grazing, seeking mates and raising young - reindeer must keep a close eye (did you know reindeer have close eyes, hmmm?) out for the following, and I quote: "There are many things that kill reindeer such as Golden Eagles who prey on calves, Wolverines, Polar Bears, Grey Wolves, Dire Wolves, Cave Lions, American Lions, Hunters, blood-sucking insects, short-faced bears, cave hyenas, smilodons, jaguars, cougars and possibly ground sloths." Sooooo, the short time the reindeer will be at Chalet, they at least won't be attacked by these predators - sounds like a pretty good trade-off - well-being wise. In other words, lighten up for goodness sakes. Judy B. P.S. Remember to watch out for those ground sloths when you take the garbage out - eeeeek! Judy B.

If anyone thinks this is ok, shame on you. Why don't we tie you up and have the car fumes go up your nose all day, and stand on concrete. This is cruel and inhumane to the animal.

Hey Ms. Friedman,

Get a clue!!! These reindeer are well cared for at Chalet, and have delighted children for years upon years. If it were up to you, Prancer, and Dasher would in fact be grazing the lush fields and woods of the Illinois country side, until one day each of them met up with a hunter who would turn each of them into venisen sausage. How would you like that Ms. Friedman? Next time you're having a burger, grilled salmon, or a piece of bacon, think about the treachery you and your loved ones put upon those animals. In the meantime let the kids enjoy the reindeer.

Any person that cares enough about this subject to write a letter to the editor is probably a vegetarian. They don't care if kids are delighted if they feel it involves cruelty to animals and they certainly don't define well cared for as being kept caged in the parking lot of a busy store.
Although this is a subject that I personally wouldn't take the time to write a letter about, I'm certainly open minded enough to see where she's coming from. As I said earlier, I applaud anyone who looks out for those that can't look at for themselves. They deserve respect.

The reindeer are just a marketing ploy and certainly there are better ways to both delight and educate kids. Safety from predators (humans or non-predators) is not a good trade-off since natural behaviors (including escape behaviors) are frustrated in captivity, causing stress. Stress reduces the immune system and leads to chronic disease. The life spans of captive wild animals (including chimpanzees and elephants) are half the length of those living in their natural habitats. Just because a wild animal is born in captivity, that doesn't make him a domestic "pet". Just as so many Wilmette residents are speaking out for the elephants and tigers in the circus that the school district keeps bringing to Wilmette, we are seeing concern grow about the reindeer kept in the parking lots. Wild animals are NOT holiday decorations or sources of entertainment.

I can imagine how furious my children can get if I were to ask them to sit in their comfy room in their chosen outfit , as a display,for few hours to please fellow human guests.
Do unto others.
Sow what you want to reap.
All being are paying for the senseless acts of few selfish humans, the wrath of god and his whole creation.
Take another look at acts like catching fireflies.

Dear folks who hate me: I don't care. love, love, Judy B.

I heard about all this hoo ha and couldn't believe the original complainer was talking about the same place I've taken my kids to see the reindeer for years and hope to be able to take my grandkids to see. Bravo Chalet. The reindeer are in no way cramped, are not subjected to the conditions the complainer has alluded to, nor are they kept walking around on cold concrete or subjected to kids poking sticks and reaching in their hands at them. There is a large area and a capaceous barn well strawed, the reindeer to not pace back and forth, I would guesstimate the area is 40-50 feet long and 20 feet or so wide and well back from the traffic. After watching "Prancer", "Miracle on 34th Street", "A Christmas Carol", "It's a Wonderful Life", the original complainer should stop in again WHILE THE SCHOOLCHILDREN and parents with their LITTLE CHILDREN are in, the laughing and giggling and delight evident on their faces is INTOXICATING and life-renewing and these urban and suburban kids are making memories that will last a lifetime. Christmas is magic, the complainers claims are distorted and BRAVO CHALET!!!

I haven't heard one person say that children aren't delighted to see the reindeer.
Again, this is not the question. The question is, do live reindeer belong in the parking lot of a busy store? In other words, should the health and well being of the reindeer be sacrificed so that children can see a reindeer? If you feel that it should then I guess you have that right. But please, I'm no animal rights activist but even I can see that the argument that the reindeer are well cared for is a losing one. If you want to kid yourselves then go ahead. But the exhaust fumes alone that they must inhale on a daily basis says otherwise. I won't even get into the stress it must cause.

You guys are funny. Reindeer live (from what I've read) 10-20 years in the wild. I didn't care to research their life span in captivity. These animals are bringing joy to children's faces, making them happy and giving them hope that Santa is coming. One of these children might become a veterinarian, a biologist, a park ranger, etc because they saw these deer when they were young. Humans live quite a bit longer than deer and have the capability to prolong the life of any species. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but everyone is also entitled to say "thank you for your insight, I don't agree with you but thank you". Anyone who objects to any reindeer being put on display during the Christmas holiday can only be taken seriously if they do not currently eat any form of meat, own anything made of leather (purse, shoes, jackets, car interiors, furniture, etc), own anything containing feathers, have ever eaten farm raised fish, been to any race track to bet on the horses or dogs, I'm sure I am missing A LOT but you get my point. I agree to disagree on this posters issue and leave the issue alone, it makes the kids happy. You can't please everyone........but everyone has a right to their opinion.

Hi Richard,
Last I heard the deer were not fighting for profit and no one was beating the crap out of them. Yes, I believe my opinion is valid.

Hi George,
I didn't say that the reindeer were fighting for profit or were being beaten. I think you understand the point of my question. You made a set of rules for people to be taken seriously concerning these reindeer which apparently is not a valid set of rules for dog fighting. I guess I don't understand why that is. Maybe that's where your line is for defining cruelty to animals. I don't know. But not everyone's line is the same as yours. Every person's opinion should be taken seriously regardless of if they meet your criteria.

George,
I understand why you would feel my example of dog abuse is extreme.
I chose that topic on purpose because for some reason everyone seems to believe that it is wrong. I can't think of a logical explanation of why that is in comparison with other animals, so I really don't find the example to be extreme. To me, saying that if you oppose the reindeer on display at Chalet and you bet $2 on the Kentucky Derby last year then your opinion can't be taken seriously..well that is extreme.
My point is simply that you can't have hard and fast rules especially for other people on what is animal cruelty. You'll only end up contradicting yourself.
I think this is a really good and important conversation that we are all having. I think that was the purpose of the letter to the editor...make people aware, get them talking. In the author's view point, maybe some people will start to see things differently. That's how change occurs. Richard

Agreed. I hope the author doesn't drive a car either due to the insects and rodents that are killed while drilling wells and the fish and birds that die from oil spills. I learned while I was young not to get into debates with people like the author. There was a girl in my class who was going on and on about how killing animals is wrong, when I asked her about her leather shoes she promptly shut her mouth. I guess my point is that if you are going to complain about something of this nature you better not have ever done anything to hurt an animal or are currently involved in the harming of an animal (ie eating beef, leather couch). If you have or are that makes you a hypocrate and you are best off keeping your opinion to yourself. Now, if you are innocent of any involvement in the harming of animals that grants you the permission to express your opinion in the public forum. I have yet to find anyone who has never benefitted from the direct of indirect destruction of an animal.

Dear Richard: Has anyone asked the reindeer how they feel about their brief stay at Chalet? I did and they answered, in unison, "We love it; a nice vacation from runnin' away from them predators, yes siree bob!" What? The reindeer never said that? How do you know - were you there, Rich? I rest my case.

George,
I certainly agree with you on the difficult topics to have a conversation about.
No question. Those are very personal to people.
The thing that I don't get about not just this topic but others as well is all the
mean, abusive talk that goes on when someone is in disagreement with someone else. What does that ever accomplish? Does it make people feel good to tell someone else off via the intenet and then turn off their computer? Nothing can ever get accomplished that way. I will never understand it.
Oh well..nice talking to you George.

We all know that to live is to harm. What we can do is vow to harm less.

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