MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Zebras are normally seen roaming the grasslands of the Serengeti, however, you can find two of them living at a Cumberland County animal sanctuary.
"They have it easy," said Janine Guido, the owner of Speranza Animal Rescue. "They eat, sleep, and get treats. You know, they're living the life."
In July 2020, Guido brought two zebras, Chrissy and Janet, to her animal sanctuary in Mechanicsburg. They were born in north Texas on a farm that breeds animals for trophy hunting.
“There are two or three canned hunts in Texas, so this is a pretty common practice," said Guido. "It’s really sad that they actually are born and bred to be hunted.”
Guido was first made aware of Chrissy and Janet through a post on Facebook. She was so determined to rescue them that she raised $17,000 on GoFundMe to bring them to Cumberland County.
“Literally, in an hour we rose that much. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’re getting zebras,'" said Guido.
Zebras aren’t classified as exotic animals in Pennsylvania, which means people are allowed to privately own them. However, Guido urges people not to buy zebras as pets.
“If you want a pet, get a dog. If you want something to ride, get a horse. Don’t ride a zebra," said Guido.
Over the years, Chrissy and Janet have become more comfortable at Speranza—where they’re able to roam freely without being hunted.
"They're thrilled to be here and you can tell," said Guido. "They're very grateful."