The Tzfas 2-year-old who was reportedly abandoned by his dad in a Tzfas zoo was not abandoned by his father as was believed to have been the case by Menachem Hadad, the director of the area petting zoo area.

Hadad admitted to police that the child, who he found on the sidewalk, did not respond to his questions so he brought him to police. Police tracked down the father and questioned him, fearing he abandoned the child.

Yosef Rose, an attorney and relative of the father explained the father is a loving parent and the child and his family live very close to the petting zoo and the child decided to visit, as he does frequently. The father also stated there is no validity to claims that he abandoned the child, explaining his wife thought the child was with him so no one looked for him.

In short, the father was released by police and the toddler was released from social services and the family was reunited. Police report the entire incident is the result of a misunderstanding on the part of a well-intentioned zoo official.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)