Rehome Neglected and Abused Zoo Animals.
The rescue occurred following an undercover investigation showing the terrible conditions, including injured and underfed animals as well as flimsy enclosures that put both animals and the pubic in danger. The animals were kept in small pens, had no activities available for entertainment and they were also suffering from many medical problems.
Target: Keo Omaliss, Vice Director of Wildlife Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture
Goal: Rescue animals allegedly being starved in cramped cages at inhumane zoos.
Petition: Click Here to help
Animals are allegedly being kept in small cages without food and water at two zoos. If this situation does not immediately change, these animals will likely soon be dead.
Teuk Chhou Zoo and Prey Veng Zoo in Cambodia are no longer being managed properly. While the owner has been addressed about the welfare of the animals, officials are concluding there is not much they can do because the zoos are privately owned.
Owner and politician Nhim Vanda claims he no longer has the funds to take care of the animals. However, he allegedly used money he was given to improve the situation in order to purchase other animals for a third zoo that had been badly damaged by floods. This action was probably an attempt to gain political recognition, as Mr. Vanda is the Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management.
Sign this petition and demand these animals be moved to reputable zoos and sanctuaries. These innocent creatures do not deserve to live in unfit conditions, and a person who cares only about political gain does not deserve to have them in his care.
Dear Vice Director Omaliss,
As you know, animals at Teuk Chhou Zoo and Prey Veng Zoo are currently being confined to small cages and are barely surviving without food and water. If these animals are not rehomed, they will likely soon die.
Although your organization has addressed the owner of the zoos about the situation, the owner has not taken the needed steps to improve their conditions. In fact, he allegedly used funds that were given to him to help these particular animals to buy animals for another zoo that had been damaged by previous floods. Since Mr. Vanda is the Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management, his actions were almost certainly a political move in order to try and gain approval from the public, or possibly a favor from someone else in a high powered position.
While you have said that there is not much that can be done because the zoos are privately owned, these animals do not deserve to continue to be neglected and abused because nobody is responsible enough to fix this horrible situation. Even if there is a limited budget, your organization could set up a fund in an effort to raise the needed money to help.
For all of these reasons, I urge you to take immediate action in rehoming these animals, and to raise the needed funds to provide them with the urgent care they so badly need. If you continue to ignore the situation, “the blood of many innocent creatures will soon be on your hands.”
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: PETA
Save Captive Animals from Mistreatment.
Target: Director General of Forestry Administration Dr. Ouk Rabun
Goal: Protect the well-being of captive animals in Cambodian zoos.
Petition: Click Here to help
Thousands of wild animals being held in captivity in Cambodian zoos are suffering from horribly inhumane and neglectful conditions. Currently, Cambodia has no minimum animal welfare standards and no compulsory inspection or licensing of any wild animal facilities. Anybody could take in a wild animal and force it into captivity for any reason whatsoever and the government will not intervene. Tell the Director of Forestry Dr. Ouk Rabun that this treatment is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Currently, over 16,000 Asian elephants, usually taken from their mother when they are only a few months old, are used for the entertainment of tourists. A third of tourists who have witnessed cruelty upon captive animals on vacation ignored it or did nothing to stop it, and about half of tourists who participated in activities involving animal cruelty were unaware that the treatment was cruel at all.
Corruption within the Cambodian government is common, so it is not surprising that the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture would turn a blind eye to the mistreatment of these animals. We will not stand for it anymore. Sign to demand an end to this abuse and torture before more animals are harmed.
Dear Director General of Forestry Administration,
I am appalled by the treatment of your captive wildlife that is allowed to go on within zoos and habitats. Animals are being locked in cages and neglected without food, water, shade from sunlight, or ground other than hard concrete. Birds that are kept in your cages are unable to fly. The animals are so clearly mistreated than many tourists at your Teuk Chhou Zoo have actively spoken out against its conditions and continuing business.
As of now, the government of Cambodia has no means of required licensing or inspection of these animal facilities. Because of this, the owners are allowed to treat or mistreat their animals however they please. Grounds of the zoos are overgrown and covered in trash, including the insides of these animals cage. They are visually sick and malnourished, and many appear on the very verge of death.
Please do not let this inconceivable treatment continue any longer. Require that all wild animal habitats are regulated for proper facilities and treatment and include minimum animal welfare standards within your national zoo legislation. Any facilities that do not comply with these requirements should be shut down immediately, no exceptions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: PETA
4 Amazing Rescues of Exotic Animals From Roadside Zoos That Give Us Hope This Cruel Practice Will End.
Getting the chance to see wild animals like monkeys and tigers up close and personal is every animal lover’s dream. After all, we love and admire these animals, so why would you pass up the chance to take a photo with one? Many roadside zoos offer tourists the chance to interact with their favorite wild animals, so why not stop at one on your next road trip? Well … if you care at all about animal welfare, then you might want to reconsider.
More often than not, roadside zoos are too good to be true and actually cause the animals in their care enormous amounts of pain and suffering. Animals are usually kept in cages that are far too small and not fed a diet that is appropriate to their breed. Above all, the fact that acaptive environment, under any circumstance, can never replicate the wild for an animal who has complex behavioral and mental needs, cannot be ignored.
Roadside zoos also differ from conventional zoos in that they allow visitors to handle or feed the animals in their care. There have been many unfortunate incidents involving animals and tourists at roadside zoos that prove the danger of these facilities. However, many continue to exist across the U.S.
The good news is that many organizations are working to shut down these cruel attractions and relocate animals to sanctuaries where they can get the freedom and care that they deserve.
Here are four stories of roadside zoo rescues that give us hope that one day these places will no longer exist.
1. 11 Exotic Animals Saved From Abusive Conditions at the Collins Zoo
In 2012, the Humane Society of the United States led a rescue of eleven exotic animals from a roadside zoo called Collins Zoo where the animals were neglected. A video of the dramatic rescue can be seen here:
The rescue occurred following an undercover investigation showing the terrible conditions, including injured and underfed animals as well as flimsy enclosures that put both animals and the pubic in danger. The animals were kept in small pens, had no activities available for entertainment and they were also suffering from many medical problems.
With the help of several other groups, including the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, Carolina Tiger Rescue, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, and Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary, the Humane Society of the United States rescued three tigers, three cougars, two leopards, two wolf hybrids, and one Macaque monkey. The Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, NC took one cougar and two leopards, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX took two cougars and Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Dilley, TX saved the Macaque monkey. All the animals are now living happy lives in sanctuaries instead of entertaining tourists.
2. Rescue of Iris the Lonely Chimp
The story of Iris the chimpanzee is another tragic example of what happens to animals in roadside zoos. This 40-year-old chimp had been living in a roadside Georgia zoo since 1999. Originally, she was living with her mother and other chimpanzees, but after they all died by 2012, she was left all alone. Understandably, Iris became very depressed in her dark enclosure. Luckily, PETA fought for her rescue, and she was relocated in March 2015 to Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida. This is the largest sanctuary for rescued chimpanzees, and she has been able to make friends already. Iris loves to explore the island and is getting stronger quickly. She will ultimately be integrated into a chimpanzee family where she will get to live out her days surrounded by others that she loves.
3. Two Himalayan Black Bears Rescued From Concrete Pit
In 2014, two Himalayan Black Bears were rescued from the Three Bears General Store, a roadside zoo and tourist attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The bears were originally illegally imported to the United States and were being kept in a concrete pit at the store where visitors could look at them and pay to throw them food. When the bears were not on display, they lived in a backyard in cages that were far too small for full-grown bears. PETA ultimately filed a complaint about the treatment of the animals and the owners were forced to remove a male and female pair. With the help of a generous donation from Sam Simon, the two bears were relocated to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado where they now have access to rolling acres of open land where they can explore and enjoy their freedom. Check out the glorious rescue, below:
They were moved just in time as the female was pregnant and had ample time to make a comfortable nest for her babies at the sanctuary. She gave birth to healthy cubs who will never have to know the suffering that their parents endured.
4. 11 Bears Saved From Neglect at Chief Saunooke Bear Park
In February 2013, eleven abused bears at Chief Saunooke Bear Park in North Carolina were rescued. These bears had been kept in concrete pits by the owners of the bear park and would only receive food when tourists paid to feed the animals. More often than not, the food given to them was not suited to a bear’s diet.
Luckily, all 11 bears were removed from this horrific situation and relocated to the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boyd, TX.
The bears included two Asian Moon Bears, six black bears, and two grizzly bears. Now this bunch of bears is enjoying all the luxuries of life in a sanctuary as they enjoy plenty of space to roam and explore, in addition to heaping meals of healthy foods.
How You Can Help Others
While these stories all have happy endings, there are many, many more that do not. The sad reality is that roadside zoos advertise that they care for their animals and often trick visitors into thinking that they only have their best interest in mind. The best thing you can do to help prevent the suffering of other animals is to help raise awareness for these abused animals and encourage others not to pay to see any animals on display. When people stop paying to feed bears in concrete pits or pet monkeys and tigers in roadside zoos, these facilities will no longer be profitable and cease to exist. Remember, no matter how tempting it might be to see an exotic animal up close and personal, no animal should have to suffer for the sake of our entertainment.
Lead image source: Jo-Anne McArthur/WeAnimals
Do Animals in ‘Reputable’ Zoos Suffer Any Less Than Those in Roadside Zoos?
Some of the most renowned zoos in the U.S. are Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions. These zoos are often large and sprawling facilities with elaborate enclosures for animals and a full team of highly trained staff. AZA zoos are considered the “gold standard” for wild animal care and there are 229 AZA accredited zoological attractions around the country.
But there are also thousands of others that exist without an AZA accreditation. These facilities are often referred to as “roadside zoos” and are allowed to operate without any specialized license that qualifies them to care for animals, other than a U.S. Department of Agriculture exhibition permit.
Sadly, without the oversight of the AZA or another third-party, these roadside zoos continue to operate despite grievous conditions and in some cases a basic understanding of how to properly care for wild animals. We’ve seen many instances of the abuse wrought on animals in roadside zoos, but also seen many cases where animals in AZA zoos suffer, begging the question of if an AZA accreditation mean there is less suffering for the animals in captivity?
Trading and Selling of Captive Animals
After animals are brought into zoos, or born there, the large majority will spend the duration of their lives in captivity. Animals in roadside zoos are frequently traded and sold through auctions when there is a surplus of animals — i.e. more animals are bred than the zoo can afford — at the establishment, or the animals are too old and no longer bring in a profit that offsets the cost to care for them.
On the flip side, many AZA facilities have Species Survival Plans in place to moderate the breeding of animals in captivity. Since these animals come from a small captive gene pool, these plans are meant to keep a degree of genetic diversity amongst the animals to avoid complications. This means that if more offspring than are allowed in these plans are born to a breeding pair, they can be euthanized on the spot. Additionally, breeding animals are frequently traded and sold to other zoo establishments to through an online password protected database to increase the diversity of other captive populations. Essentially, these animals are meant to “serve” the survival of the species, but really only treated like commodities that can be shuffled around.
Photo-Ops With Wild Animals
Unlike accredited institutions that don’t allow contact between visitors and the animals, many roadside zoos offer once in a lifetime opportunities for paying customers to hold the animals and have their picture taken. Unbeknownst to the visitors, we know how cruel these attractions are. A slew of undercover investigations have uncovered an appalling level of abuse that goes on behind the scenes of these seemingly fun and friendly attractions.
AZA zoos don’t typically permit this sort of interaction with the larger exotic animals, but some do offer visitors the chance to pet certain small animals under the supervision of trained zoo personnel. These animals are referred to as “Animal Ambassadors” and their training and handling must follow the AZA’s standard protocol. Programs that are permitted with Animal Ambassadors include “swim with” marine animals, petting and feeding camels, and other moderated wildlife experiences.
The AZA website states: “Ambassador animal presentations bring a host of responsibilities, including the safety and welfare of the animals involved, the safety of the animal handler and public, and accountability for the take-home, educational messages received by the audience. Therefore, AZA requires all accredited institutions that make ambassador animal presentations to develop an institutional program animal policy that clearly identifies and justifies those species and individuals approved as program animals and details their long-term management plan and educational program objectives.”
It can be argued that in both roadside and AZA zoos a “conservation” and “education” message is purveyed to visitors, but in the wild, animals would never be encouraged to interact or play with humans – in fact, most would avoid human contact as a survival method – so what are these programs really teaching?
Stereotypic Behaviors in Captive Animals
Many animals in captivity exhibit stereotypic behaviors that can range from pacing and head bobbing to self-mutilation and regurgitation. It is believed that these outward actions are symptomatic of extreme mental distress rooted in the animals inability to express their natural behaviors.
While this behavior may be expected from animals kept at roadside zoos, it’s also common amongst animals at AZA-accredited institutions. Despite the millions of dollars poured into research programs and intricate habitats, wild animals in captivity can never fully realize their wild nature in an artificial setting.
Is it Really Worth it?
We are taught to believe that AZA-accredited institutions are the places possible for captive animals and that we can expect that the animals are receiving the highest quality of care. To some degree, this may be true. But stereotypic behaviors still exist (to varying degrees), enclosures are still outdated or too small and the animals continue to be exploited. Above all, the argument can be made that by holding animals in captivity – no matter the venue – for the sake of their protection or conservation, all that we’re really doing is perpetuating the captivity of a wild animal. Animals who are raised in zoos will never be able to return to the wild and contribute to the survival of their species, so we have to ask ourselve who captivity is really benefitting? And in the end, is it worth it?
As Green Monsters, it is up to us to see the cruelty behind all wild animals exhibits – AZA-accredited or not – and speak up for the many voiceless animals. These facilities both exist because people are willing to pay money to attend them. When we stop paying for the exploitation of animals, there will cease to be a demand. No animal should suffer for the sake of their own “conservation” let alone our entertainment.
#Giraffes are adorable, but what happens to them in #zoos is NOT cute: http://peta2.me/giraffes
We thought we were taking a cheerful trip to the zoo, but the experience left us in tears. It was my daughter’s first time at a zoo, her first chance to see these majestic creatures up close. But the animal enclosures at the Wilderness Trail Zoo are shockingly small and bare. The beautiful lions, tigers, bears and other animals that we had traveled to see were clearly not thriving. I felt so bad for exposing my daughter to these sad sights.
Wilderness Trail Zoo does not appear to have its animals’ best interest at heart. Please join me in asking WTZ to commit to improving its animal enclosures.
I do believe that zoos serve a purpose. They help rebuild endangered animal populations and educate the public about animals they might never see up close. But zoos also have a responsibility to provide suitable living conditions for the animals in their care. At Wilderness Trail Zoo, I saw big cats in treeless enclosures, with nothing to shield them from the sun. The bears paced around a pool that took up most of their cage. Birds hardly had room to fly. I felt devastated by the end of this family outing.
I have been to many zoos. The best ones provide huge enclosures, full of plant life for shade, and toys to keep the animals active. If we must keep these majestic beasts in captivity, it is our duty to make sure they have everything they need to lead a healthy existence.
I am not here to close this zoo, but I do want it to enlarge its enclosures and prove that it really does have its animals’ interest at heart. Please help me make a difference for hundreds of animals being held in subpar conditions. Tell the Wilderness Trail Zoo that their animals deserve better.
Animals Drowned and Shot Allegedly at Roadside Zoo Deserve Justice
Target: Angela J. Jones, Santa Rosa County State Attorney
Goal: Punish individuals accused of shooting and drowning zoo animals.
Petition: Click Here to help
A father-daughter pair, Eric and Meghan Mogensen, were charged with multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act after findings at their 50-acre zoo in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The allegations include shooting and drowning their animals instead of peacefully euthanizing them. A child was also reportedly bitten by a camel while at the zoo, as there was reportedly inadequate supervision and protection.
Other details of the allegations are equally horrifying. Authorities claim that zoo staff members used out-of-date shots to euthanize, and some pens contained sharp nails protruding from rusting fences. A spider monkey reportedly died from hypothermia at the zoo, and sheep did not have shelter to get out of the sun. The lion and tiger food bins were also not regularly cleaned, as stated by a police report.
The duo also owns two other zoo attractions in Virginia, and were charged with violations there as well. Meghan Mogensen even pleaded guilty to animal mistreatment charges at one of their Virginia zoos, but was still allowed to work at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. Authorities have called the zoos “scary houses of horrors” for the animals that reside there. In light of the reported horrors found at these zoos, the Humane Society of the United States brought the story to the press to gain awareness of the kind of treatment animals receive at these roadside zoos.
The two are now facing federal animal mistreatment charges. This is not an isolated case, as many roadside zoos are unsafe and unfair to their animals. It is vital that cases such as these are properly tried, and that those guilty cannot continue working at zoos and perpetuating the mistreatment. Support this petition to punish these individuals if found guilty, so that they can never again have the opportunity to mistreat animals.
Dear State Attorney Jones,
Two individuals, Eric and Meghan Mogensen, are facing federal charges for animal mistreatment. Under their care, a spider monkey allegedly died from hypothermia, lions and tigers did not have clean food bins, and various animals were euthanized by drowning or being shot. These two own several zoos, and Meghan Mogensen was even charged and pleaded guilty to animal mistreatment before.
This is not an isolated incident. Roadside zoos are historically not safe places for animals, and action must be taken now. Please punish these people properly if they are found guilty. They should not be allowed to care for animals ever again, and the courts should take such abuses seriously. I support strict punishment of these individuals, and encourage further efforts to protect zoo animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Frank Wouters
Success: Captive Chimps Declared Endangered
Target: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Goal: Praise decision to declare captive chimps as endangered and grant them protection under federal law.
Petition: Click Here to help
Captive chimps have been declared endangered and are now protected under federal law. This decision will ensure humane treatment of captive chimps and restrict all commercial activities. Before these animals were granted such rights, they were held in pens, bought and sold for research, and often treated as lab animals in order to find cures for human diseases.
Wild chimpanzees have been declared endangered and protected by the federal government for nearly 25 years. The decision to protect only wild chimpanzees and exclude captive ones was the only “split listing” of endangered species in history. However, the disappearance of chimps as a species has forced the government to reconsider its classification. More than one million chimps have disappeared from the wild since the year 2000 and it is estimated that only 300,000 remain.
Part of the reason captive chimpanzees were not offered protection immediately is due to medical research. The United States remains the only developed nation to use chimps for medical research after European nations outlawed it years ago. Many organizations fought for the continued use of chimpanzees in research until it finally became apparent that it was neither humane nor beneficial.
The new ruling will require federal permits to use chimps for biomedical research, as well as for any importing or exporting across state and international borders. It will also help to eliminate the use of chimpanzees in commercial activities such as in circuses and movies.
After outcry from the public to grant captive chimpanzees protection, including our voices here at ForceChange, the rulings have finally passed. Jane Goodall proposed these rulings two years ago and says that their passage will help to protect “our closest living relatives.” Sign this petition to commend the work done to finally protect captive chimpanzees and hopefully preserve their species altogether.
Dear U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Wild chimpanzees have been protected under federal law for nearly 25 years. However, this left captive chimps to become victims of biomedical testing where they were kept in cages and bought and sold without strict regulation. The United States is the only developed nation to continue using chimps for research, and does so at the expense of the disappearing species. We have lost nearly one million chimps since the turn of the century. Now, there is an estimated 300,000.
The decision to protect captive chimpanzees under federal law and declaring them endangered will not only grant these chimpanzees a safer life, but also help to restore the diminishing chimp population. I commend your efforts to preserve their species and ask you to continue to help ensure their preservation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Investigate Reports of Officers Shooting Escaped Zoo Animals.
Target: Vakhtang Gomelauri, Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs
Goal: Dismiss officers accused of unnecessarily shooting escaped zoo animals.
Petition: Click Here to help
Flooding in the city of Tbilisi, Georiga caused many of the city’s zoo animals to escape onto the streets of the surrounding residential areas, and since then, officers have been reported shooting the escaped animals despite having other options for containment.
Half of the zoo animals are either missing or dead from flooding or gunshots. Policemen were brought in to contain them and handle the situation to keep both people and animals safe. Zoo staff and citizens have been telling stories that show a lack of preservation tactics from some of the officers involved in trying to remove the animals from the streets.
Witnesses report that officers have been taking photographs of themselves with dead animals similar to trophy hunters. Another report was of an officer shooting a wolf that had already been tranquilized and could have been easily transported. Only three of the original twenty wolves in the zoo have survived and been returned alive.
Tigers, lions, bears and a hippo also either drowned or were shot by police after the flood occurred. A white lion cub that had been in the care of zoo veterinarians since it was born was also shot, and while it was stated he was drowning and they were trying to be merciful, some of his caretakers disagree that lethal action was necessary. The zoo has reported that all seven of its tigers are dead.
These animals are wild animals that were put into captivity by humans in a zoo in a residential area. The alleged actions from officers that have caused many exotic and rare animals to die should be thoroughly investigated and any officer found of killing one of these creatures when nonlethal force could have been used should be dismissed immediately from the force and tried for animal cruelty.
Dear Minister Gomelauri,
After the flood hit the city of Tbilisi and caused many animals to escape from the zoo, reports of officers using lethal actions against zoo animals have been coming out from citizens and zoo staff. The flood overall was a tragedy that will take time from Tbilisi to recover from, but the officers who took the lives of animals that had escaped need to be investigated thoroughly.
These wild animals were entrusted to be properly cared for by the zoo and the city, and they were as frightened when they escaped onto the streets as the people. With half of the zoo animals reported dead or missing, and many people saying that they were shot on the streets without the use of tranquilizer guns, this is a serious loss of a collection of beautiful wild animals.
The deaths of every animal that was shot by officers should be investigated, and if it is found nonlethal force could be used the officers responsible should be punished in accordance with Georgia’s laws for animal cruelty and wildlife preservation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Urge Three Bears General Store Owner to Send Bears to Sanctuary.
Thanks to Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon, PETA, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, two Himalayan black bears who had been confined to a tiny cage in a residential backyard by Three Bears General Store Owner Bill DeLozier in Sevierville, Tennessee, have been released into their new homes at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. But there are five more bears still being held captive in a virtually barren concrete pit at DeLozier's general store, and they need our help. Help us send these bears to a sanctuary, too!
After DeLozier, struck a plea deal with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency over his illegal importation of the two Himalayan black bears, the bears were transported to a sanctuary and are now getting acquainted with their new home, where they will spend the rest of their lives foraging, digging, and roaming their vast, naturalistic habitat. The two rescued bears, whom DeLozier said he intended to breed, will now spend the remainder of their days walking on soft terrain and engaging in natural bear behavior, but five other bears are still suffering in deplorable conditions in a pit at DeLozier's store. Three Bears has a lengthy history of animal welfare violations, including allowing moldy excrement to accumulate in the bears' enclosures, failing to provide adequate veterinary care, and failing to provide clean drinking water.
Join us in urging Mr. DeLozier to end the exploitation and to send the bears who are suffering at Three Bears General Store to a sanctuary, where they will get the space and quality care they deserve. Click Here to help!
PPI Florida Monkey Farm Should Be Shut Down Immediately
- author: Sue Stanton
- target: County Commissioners of Hendry County, Florida
- signatures: 51,323
55,000
This facility imports and breeds primates destined for research Labs. Workers denied this monkey veterinary care for her extremely painful injury, an exposed vertebra, for at least seven days, leaving her vulnerable to infection and even death.
Documentation shows the heartbreaking lives of thousands of monkeys and numerous issues ranging from violent handling, filthy living conditions, exposure to the elements and failing to provide veterinary care to denying seriously injured monkeys veterinary care and leaving those who were continuously bullied and attacked by cage mates to fend for themselves.
PPI came under fire for conducting procedures in violation of the zoning laws in the county, which are in place for agricultural purposes – among other procedures, problems included having vet techs perform C-section abortions to harvest baby monkey parts and their mothers’ milk, which legally they’re not allowed to do.
Documentation shows the heartbreaking lives of thousands of monkeys and numerous issues ranging from violent handling, filthy living conditions, exposure to the elements and failing to provide veterinary care to denying seriously injured monkeys veterinary care and leaving those who were continuously bullied and attacked by cage mates to fend for themselves.
PPI came under fire for conducting procedures in violation of the zoning laws in the county, which are in place for agricultural purposes – among other procedures, problems included having vet techs perform C-section abortions to harvest baby monkey parts and their mothers’ milk, which legally they’re not allowed to do.
Click Here to help!
.@BobbyJindal Yo Gov! Why'd u sign a bill EXEMPTING someone from a state law that BANS Private Ownership of Big Cats?
BATON ROUGE—In their ongoing battle to free Tony, a tiger living at Grosse Tete’s Tiger Truck Stop, the national nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and former Representative Warren Triche, Jr. filed suit against the State of Louisiana for violating the Louisiana Constitution by passing a law that exempts a single individual from existing state public safety and animal welfare laws. The sole purpose of SB 250, signed by Governor Jindal last week as “Act 697,” is to allow Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin to keep the 14-year-old Siberian-Bengal tiger caged in a gas station parking lot––captivity that previously violated Louisiana law, which prohibits the private possession of dangerous large exotic cats. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of former Representative Warren Triche Jr., the Louisiana legislator who sponsored the 2006 big exotic cats ban, as well as other Louisiana residents and taxpayers, in the East Baton Rouge District Court. The defendants include the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Tiger Truck Stop, and Michael Sandlin.
He's trapped at a GAS STATION in Louisiana—and he doesn't belong there.
Help get him to a sanctuary!
.@BobbyJindal Yo Gov! Why'd u sign a bill EXEMPTING someone from a state law that BANS Private Ownership of Big Cats?
PETA spearheaded this campaign for many years. We filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state and parish officials, posted action alerts and wrote countless letters in an effort to get the tigers "retired" (there used to be multiple tigers in two different locations). We wrote to Michael Sandlin, the owner of the truck stop, multiple times offering to help pay the costs of moving the tigers to a legitimate sanctuary.
After years of complaints, in July 2002, the USDA charged Michael Sandlin with violating the Animal Welfare Act, including keeping the tigers in unsound facilities, lack of a veterinary care program and improper nutrition. Sandlin paid a $1,000 fine and was ordered not to possess or exhibit more than two exotic cats. As a result, Sandlin moved three of his four tigers to a facility in Tennessee, leaving one—Tony—still on display.
Fast forward to 2009. Despite aggressive campaigning over the legality of keeping a wild animal in the parish, local officials voted to allow Sandlin to keep Tony at the truck stop, which opened the door for Sandlin to qualify for a state permit from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The department granted him one and the campaign continued.
In May 2011, a Louisiana district granted the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s (ALDF) request for a permanent injunction against the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, preventing the department from renewing Sandlin’s annual permit. The ruling was later upheld under appeal when the court ruled that the permit was illegally issued in the first place. Sandlin will no longer be able to keep Tony confined at the truck stop where he has languished for over a decade. Sandlin appealed the case yet again.
In October 2013, the Louisiana Supreme Court denied Sandlin’s petition to review the Court of Appeals decision that barred him from keeping a tiger. But … Sandlin is challenging a 2006 law giving the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries jurisdiction over big and exotic cats.
In April 2014, Louisiana State Sen. Rick Ward introduced Senate Bill 250 to exempt people who hold a USDA Class C exhibitor's license, in other words, Michael Sandlin.
At that time, the bill was voted down. http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/tony_the_truck_stop_tiger_bato.html
As the case continued to wind its way through the system, we sent an urgent appeal to our Louisiana members to voice their objections to the Louisiana House Natural Resources Committee to reject any change in the law. Inexplicably, and outrageously, the legislature voted to create a "retroactive exemption" for Sandlin that would allow Tony to stay jammed in a gas station cage.
The Louisiana legislature should be ashamed of itself for creating a loophole to skirt its own state's animal-protection laws just so that one truck-stop owner—who has repeatedly violated federal law by failing to provide tigers with adequate veterinary care and safe and sanitary housing and by handling tigers in a way that causes them undue stress or trauma—can continue to use a caged, deprived tiger as a sad “mascot.”
We called on Governor Bobby Jindal to veto this ludicrous move, and as we have offered for years, PETA stands ready to help transport Tony to the sanctuary that is waiting to give him a real life, where he would finally have acres in which to roam and a real home.
To say that this process has been maddening is an understatement.
Animal Legal Defense Fund Files Lawsuit against Louisiana for Violating State Constitution with New Tony the Truck Stop Tiger Law
Governor Jindal’s Signature on SB 250 Draws National Controversy and Courtroom Showdown
For immediate release:
Contact:
Lisa Franzetta, ALDF
Megan Backus, ALDF
Lisa Franzetta, ALDF
Megan Backus, ALDF
BATON ROUGE—In their ongoing battle to free Tony, a tiger living at Grosse Tete’s Tiger Truck Stop, the national nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and former Representative Warren Triche, Jr. filed suit against the State of Louisiana for violating the Louisiana Constitution by passing a law that exempts a single individual from existing state public safety and animal welfare laws. The sole purpose of SB 250, signed by Governor Jindal last week as “Act 697,” is to allow Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin to keep the 14-year-old Siberian-Bengal tiger caged in a gas station parking lot––captivity that previously violated Louisiana law, which prohibits the private possession of dangerous large exotic cats. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of former Representative Warren Triche Jr., the Louisiana legislator who sponsored the 2006 big exotic cats ban, as well as other Louisiana residents and taxpayers, in the East Baton Rouge District Court. The defendants include the State of Louisiana, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Tiger Truck Stop, and Michael Sandlin.
According to the lawsuit, Act 697 violates the Louisiana Constitution’s prohibition on “special laws” that grant exclusive benefits to any private individual or interest. ALDF seeks an injunction against these privileges given to Sandlin, who has repeatedly sought preferential treatment while openly violating the law. Act 697 would undo several legal victories achieved by ALDF on Tony the tiger’s behalf, and retroactively remove the protections Tony received under the existing ban. Rep. Warren Triche, Jr. explains that “Tony’s situation played a principal role in passing the 2006 bill, as he was a perfect example of why such legislation was needed.” Governor Jindal recently has taken several actions that many see as anti-animal welfare, including signing a bill to declare the blood sport of fox penning part of the state heritage, and vetoing a Republican bill that would have protected dogs in pickup trucks.
In 2011, ALDF successfully sued LDWF for unlawfully issuing Sandlin a permit to exhibit Tony. ALDF was joined in the suit by former Rep. Triche, Jr. and several other Louisiana taxpayers. In April 2013, the Louisiana Court of Appeal held that Sandlin and the Tiger Truck Stop were ineligible for a big cat permit and could no longer keep Tony captive. In October 2013, the Louisiana Supreme Court let that decision stand.
“By vetoing pro-animal laws brought forth by his own party, and signing this unconstitutional law, Governor Jindal has cast a shadow over his aspirations for a national run for the White House,” said Stephen Wells, executive director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “The Animal Legal Defense Fund will not allow Tony’s protections to be subverted by backroom politics. Tony deserves to live in a reputable sanctuary, not a gas station parking lot.”
#WhatAreYouAfraidOf That I'll never get out of the truck stop & to a real sanctuary home :( http://aldf.org/tony
Perhaps one of the most well-known instances of an animal being held at a pit stop isTony, the truck stop tiger, who has been living at a gas station in Louisiana for the past 12 years. Michael Sandlin, the owner of Tiger Truck Stop, has long battled animal rights groups in court over Tony’s fate. In 2003, three of Sandlin’s tigers were removed from his care due to a number of violations. Still, Tony remained at the truck stop.
Sandlin challenged a 2006 statewide ban on the private ownership of exotic cats in 2009. And in 2014, he conspired with a Louisiana lawmaker and produced an exemption to the 2006 ban (Senate Bill 250), one that frees Sandlin from the ban and allows him to keep Tony in captivity.
Sandlin’s website, SaveTony, pleas for his followers to help save Tony from the activists trying to take his tiger away from his home and for private citizens to stand up for their rights to own exotic animals.
Luckily, there are many people who see right through this shameless ploy and oppose Tony’s captivity. The Animal Legal Defense Fund continues to campaign for Tony’s freedom, click here to learn more about their work.
Help get him to a sanctuary!
