This Woman Fed Her Kid’s Pony to Lions—and She Has No Regrets

Pernille Sohl had two options when her teenage daughter’s pony was diagnosed with a painful, incurable skin condition: pay a vet to put him down, or drive him to Aalborg Zoo to be fed to lions. She chose the lions.

Chicago 57, a German riding pony, had been living with eczema so severe it left open wounds in summer. Mosquito bites triggered the flare-ups, forcing him to wear a jacket and leg guards to stop further damage. By 2020, Sohl knew it was time. She let her daughter, Angelina, then 13, decide how to say goodbye.

“I gave Angelina the various options and she chose the one with the zoo, because it made the most sense,” Sohl told The Times. “She wanted Chicago 57 to benefit other animals.”

This Mom Fed Her Kid’s Pony to Lions and Doesn’t Feel Bad About It

At Aalborg Zoo—one of Denm