TACOMA, Wash — Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium recently said a heartfelt goodbye to one of its most beloved occupants.
Herald, who had been the zoo dog at Point Defiance for the past 14 years, was humanely euthanized after a decline in health, it announced in a Facebook post.
To honor Herald, the zoo is working with its non-profit partner, The Zoo Society, to raise funds for erecting a bronze statue of the dog that will be displayed at the entrance to the Wild Wonders Theater at the park.
"The 16-year-old pup wasn’t just a star on the stage (though his range as a canine actor was enormous); he was a beloved member of our family," the zoo said of Herald. "Herald was a cancer survivor, an expert at breaking into packages he wasn’t supposed to, and the fastest squirrel-chaser in the universe. He was also a conservation superhero, raising over $110,000 in donations to the zoo’s wildlife conservation fund."
Herald starred in shows regularly at Wild Wonders Theater for years, becoming an integral part of the community at Point Defiance. In 2022, Rocket was introduced as the new regular zoo dog in shows at Wild Wonders. However, the zoo still kept Herald around to "mentor" Rocket and make occasional cameos in shows.
Sadly, this isn't the first long-time resident of Point Defiance who has passed away so far in 2024. The zoo announced on Jan. 8 that Kevin, the final peacock residing on the property, was humanely put down. The peacocks were known to come up and greet visitors of the zoo for many years.
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