There are fewer zoos than you would expect in the United States: as of August 2017, there were only approximately 500 zoological facilities in the country.

Zoological facilities and sanctuaries in the United States tend appear to the general public to be fairly similar enterprises, but in reality, they're very distinct business types. 

The group of entities in the United States that hold United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal exhibition licenses (Class C) are a highly diverse group of individuals and businesses; understanding the different types of entities involved is necessary for anyone involved in the legislative or regulatory aspects of animal exhibition. 

Having widely understood, clearly defined terminology will lead to more successful advocacy efforts by opening discussions to the public and empowering them to make informed decisions about supporting zoological facilities. Embracing the term “menagerie” as a replacement to the vague and confusing "roadside zoo" is an elegant solution that will facilitate clear conversations about the crucial role modern zoological facilities play in our world.

The term "roadside zoo" has become over-used recently as a way to denote a "bad” zoological facility. Since there is no consensus among the groups that use the term regarding what it actually indicates about a facility, “roadside zoo” itself has by now lost any pre-existing operant definition and its continued use serves mainly to provoke an emotional reaction.