Zoo

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[ Music plays ]

Man:

Back from the part of Virginia

I was from,

you know, real rural, coal mining...

You didn't get to experience much

in the way of culture.

It was really quiet and easy living,

but you just had nothing to experience.

When something like

the internet came along,

it really changed things

and opened things up a lot.

If you can't be there,

you can at least see it or read about it.

Hey! Hey! I need the phone.

Man:

It was just... Different perspectives and...

And whole different outlooks on life.

[ Crickets chirping ]

[ Music plays ]

Over several years of talking to people online,

there was some of 'em

that actually helped me out,

told me, "why don't you move out this way?

There'll be more opportunities for you."

[ Wings fluttering ]

[ Music plays ]

They decided to

send me some money...

And basically just said, "move".

[ Music plays ]

I was elated,

and at the same time, terrified.

[ Music plays ]

Mom, I'm going away for a while.

I'm going to be going to, uh, Washington.

Man:

I could see that it bothered her,

that I would be moving so far away.

But at the same time,

she was really supportive.

[ Music plays ]

Woman:

The first call we got was in the afternoon.

I remember it clearly.

It seemed so...

Strange to get that particular

type of call on that day.

We don't get a lot of sun here

in the Pacific Northwest...

So you notice it

when it's a nice, sunny day.

It makes you very happy.

And that particular call

made me very unhappy.

So, at some point,

I said, "is this a bestiality case?

Is that what you're trying to tell me?"

And he said, "yes".

And I said, "so what do you need us to do?"

[ Horse whickering ]

[ Music plays ]

Coyote:

Before I even had the concept of being zoo,

I'd had a feeling

that a traditional family life

was something that I would never do.

I don't need

a high level of emotional interaction...

Whether it be human or otherwise.

I function fine, I think.

You could probably ask three zoos

and get three different definitions.

I guess the main thing would be someone that

feels they have a whole lot closer affinity

to non-human animals than their own kind.

It doesn't necessarily exclude caring

for fellow humans and friends

in the same way.

Man:

We talk to quite a few people

all over the world via the internet.

Unfortunately, most of the people

that were part of our little group were white.

But we did have quite

a few other friends who are black.

There was a Hispanic

that came out to visit once.

Actually, a couple times.

I talked to people out of Poland

and Germany and Japan.

I even talked to

soldiers that are currently in Iraq.

This gives them

a chance to kind of connect back

with the old world

that they knew back here...

Even if it's the same old world

that sent them over there

to survive that environment.

[ Music plays ]

Man:

I worked for the same guy since I was 23.

He's a member

of the National Horse Association.

He had some

top-quality show Arabs.

I did the maintenance.

I got paid good.

Clean the stalls.

His tractor would break down or...

Manure spreader would break down

or something like that.

He was gone all the time.

He was going back and forth

from the West Coast to the East Coast,

because he was building

a new home and a ranch there.

If you could grab all the mail

and put it in there, I'd appreciate it.

Also keep the horse...

H:

They were my so-called friends for 20-some years.

If there's anything else,

our cell phones will be on, so...

H:

When this broke loose,

the last thing he said to me,

he told me I was a very bad person.

We were friends for all those years

and all of a sudden I'm no good

just because I love the horses?

[ Music plays ]

Coyote:

On the bus, I've spent a lot of time in thought.

Why am I this way?

There has to be a purpose.

That part, I don't know yet.

Trying to balance

religion and being zoo...

A lot of that is faith.

Growing up Baptist

in a fairly religious household...

I held certain beliefs to my heart.

God doesn't hate anyone.

You treat your fellow man right.

You don't hurt other people.

And for the most part, you'll...

You'll be okay.

H:

I always treated my animals as part of my family.

They ate before I did.

Look at the videos

that they took of the horses.

Did they look neglected?

No.

It's the love of animals.

That's what zoophilia is.

It's just like if you love your wife or your kids.

It's the same thing.

I took better care of my animals

than I ever did care for myself. Look at me.

I'm... Here I am, going to be 53.

Jenny:

When I had a bout with cancer

and felt really, really badly,

There were many nights

that I went down and spent with my horse.

It's just a very comforting feeling.

They do this

little soft, blow-y thing.

And they know that you're there.

And the time passes so fast.

The night is over before you know it.

I could go down there and just hang on her.

She was my strength.

She was my legs.

She was my heart

that wouldn't beat right,

and I could just cry

and talk and hang out.

It was exactly what I needed at the time.

H:

See, I grew up in the city. I'm a city boy.

And I always

wanted to be a farmer.

Well, the job

gave me what I wanted.

As I say, I started when I was 16,

right after my mom died.

Some reason, it just happened one day,

and I kind of liked it.

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