Fwd: [00_PETA] Traveling animal show cruelty exposed-Pls send sample letter

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Source:

[hsus-action] HUMANElines --- Issue #110 --- September

14, 2000

 

 

SEND TO:

Ron DeHaven

Deputy Administrator for Animal Care

USDA

PO Box 96464

Wash., DC 20090-6464

Email: APHIS.Web

 

SAMPLE LETTER

***Don’t forget to sign***

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

APHIS.Web

 

Please prosecute James E. Stephens to the fullest

extent allowed by the AWA

 

Dear Mr. DeHaven:

 

I am writing to you to urge you to prosecute James E.

Stephens of Water Wheel Exotics, Inc. to the fullest

extent allowed by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and to

bar Stephens from ever owning another animal.

 

I understand that on Sept. 2nd, USDA Animal Welfare

Act (AWA) inspectors raided the Pennsylvania facility,

seizing a menagerie of starving and dying exotic

animals from James E. Stephens, the proprietor and

director of Water Wheel Exotics, Inc. Mr. Stephens

used his exotic animals--- yaks, reindeer, tigers, and

an elephant--- as part of his traveling animal

display. Local residents say that Stephens commonly

drove big cats (tigers and lions) around in a trailer

pulled behind his car.

 

I also understand that this is Stephens' second run-in

with the USDA for AWA violations: in 1997, Stephens

was fined $30,000 for violations, and in 1999 a

federal judge assessed a $32,000 penalty, listing

" failure to remove and dispose of waste and failure to

provide adequate veterinary care " among the charges.

An inspector at the 1997 incident described " camels

who were having trouble reaching their food and water

because the enclosure was full of mud and muck. . .

three reindeer. . thin and in need of hoof trimming "

and a tiger being fed " very contaminated " meat, mainly

roadkill deer carcasses.

 

Mr. DeHaven, you have stated, " The animals we found at

Stephens' facility were suffering . . . we could not

allow them to remain with Stephens. " Please make sure

that Stephens’ crimes are punished and that he never

be able to inflict pain on animals ever again.

 

Thank you for your attention to this very serious

matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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