The Case of the Puerto Rican Zoo Immigrants (A Foley Monster Small Tale from Rainbow Bridge_

 I had to put my judge robe on this week to decide on a crucial case.

There was once a thriving zoo in Puerto Rico, but because of budget cuts and a disastrous hurricane, the zoo fell into disrepair, and the animals became neglected. There was no choice but to close the zoo.

But what was to become of the animals? They couldn't be set free; some of them were predators. They began to search for a zoo to take the soon-to-be homeless inhabitants.

After months of calls, the government found a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado that agreed to take the animals.

But that was only the beginning of the problems. Darnell, an elephant in the sanctuary, objected to the refugees being allowed into his neighborhood.

He stood before the other animals and made his case: "When Puerto Rico sends its animals, they're not sending their best. They're sending animals that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing lice. They're bringing disease. They're predators. And some, I assume, are good animals."

At first animals, he thought that Darnell was stroking his trunk. Still, other animals sided with him and filed suit in animal court to block the Puerto Rican animals from immigrating to Colorado. All human testimony occurred in their quickly forgotten dreams; at least, I hoped they didn't remember.

Recalling a dream where a Yorkie judged an elephant's desire to block refugee giraffes from entering the country would make someone swear off late-night cold pizza.

The defendant went first: He explained that the animals' lives were in danger in Puerto Rico, and their best hope for survival was being transferred to Colorado. A ruling against them would be a death sentence.

Next, it was Darnell's turn. The elephant impressively stood on his back legs and spoke clearly. "The sanctuary is for open cages. There is a caravan of zoo animals invading the southern border. We need to tell them the refuge is full. "

"It is not a caravan," the representative for the sanctuary said, "it is an ark. The owner is named  Noah, and two of each animal are on the boat. They will perish if they are not accepted in Colorado and return to Puerto Rico."

I didn't want to be responsible for animals perishing and quickly sided with the refugees.

Darnell is trying to overturn my decision and is running for President of the Sanctuary. It is scary to think he could get elected, especially when facing several charges, including paying off a gibbon who peed on his trunk for sexual gratification.

He couldn't possibly be elected.

Could he?