Guest guest Posted January 28, 2001 Report Share Posted January 28, 2001 \\\\=^..^=///// www.vote.com www.peta.org www.petitionpetition.com PETA Action Alerts -- January 25, 2001 ___ Orangutan Abuser Attempts Encore PETA has received information that an orangutan act headed by former Las Vegas performer Bobby Berosini is being considered for an engagement at the Flamingo Hilton Reno in February. In 1989, Mr. Berosini was videotaped routinely and repeatedly beating his orangutans with a metal rebar backstage before going on stage at the Stardust Hotel and Casino. In January 1994, the Nevada Supreme Court unanimously overturned a defamation judgment against PETA and others who had said that the videotapes of Berosini beating the orangutans backstage showed that he was ³abusing² them. The Nevada Supreme Court further explained, ³All of the members of this court have reviewed the tape; and what is shown on the tape is clear and unequivocal; Berosini is shown, immediately before going on stage, grabbing, slapping, punching, and shaking the animals while several handlers held the animals in position.² Furthermore, on June 29, 1994, on the basis of sworn statements from three new eyewitnesses, we filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking for an investigation into allegations of Berosini¹s continued abuse of the orangutans. The eyewitnesses claimed that Berosini not only beat the apes with his fists and a metal rebar but also used an electric prod to intimidate and punish them as well. Such actions violate the federal Animal Welfare Act handling regulations (which were enacted after the 1989 videotape mentioned above) forbidding the use of physical abuse to ³train, work, or otherwise handle animals.² In 1998, Bobby Berosini set up shop in the lobby of the Tropicana Hotel, charging hotel visitors a fee to pose for photographs with one of the orangutans. However, public outrage, including demonstrations and hotel reservation cancellations, persuaded the Tropicana to remove Berosini from hotel grounds and cancel his contract to perform at the hotel before his show even began. In an attempt to determine whether Bobby Berosini is indeed scheduled to appear at the Flamingo Hilton Reno, PETA contacted Bud Likes, general manager of the hotel. Before our representative could say more than a few words, Likes stated that he didn¹t give a damn and hung up. While Likes may not care what PETA thinks, we believe that owners of the hotel, Park Place Entertainment Corporation will care what YOU think. Please contact the following individuals immediately and express your opinion with regard to whether or not Berosini should appear with orangutans at the Flamingo Hilton Reno. Contact: Bud Likes, General Manager Flamingo Hilton Reno 255 N. Sierra St. Reno, NV 89501 Tel.: 1-800-648-4510, extension 7205 Fax: 775-785-7336 Stephen F. Bollenbach Chair Park Place Entertainment Corporation 3930 Howard Hughes Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel.: 702-699-5000 Fax: 702-699-5202 To view footage of Berosini beating his orangutans at the Stardust Hotel, visit: http://www.peta-online.org/alert/00/260.html ___ Advocate for Humane and Ethical Standards of Conduct for Canadian Veterinarians In July 1999, a semi-feral cat named Melanie was delivered to veterinarian Boyd Taylor in Amherst, Nova Scotia, for a humane death. But what ensued was a living nightmare for Melanie and her human caretaker, Don Steeves. A compassionate local resident who cared for numerous homeless cats, Steeves made the heartbreaking decision to have two of his charges euthanized after neighbors threatened to shoot or poison the animals if they were not removed from the neighborhood. Through a glass door at the back of the clinic, Don Steeves witnessed Dr. Taylor grab Melanie by one back leg and her tail and slam her head against the concrete floor at least twice. By the time Steeves arrived at the clinic¹s front door to save Melanie, it was too late. Steeves told the Sunday Daily News " [Taylor] came out with a taped box, thinking I am not going to look in [it]. I ripped the box open, and there was still blood flowing out of Melanie¹s mouth onto one of her paws. " A subsequent necropsy revealed that Melanie had suffered a fractured skull and fractured ribs, among other injuries, at the hands of Dr. Taylor. Dr. Taylor maintains that Melanie " went ballistic " and that this inhumane and inappropriate " method " was his only option because he feared that the cat would inflict serious injury on him or a member of his staff. He told the local newspaper, " I probably should have just opened the door and let the cat run out of the clinic. Then I wouldn¹t have any headaches like I have now. " A three-member panel of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association (NSVMA) found that Dr. Taylor had engaged in " professional misconduct, " yet unbelievably, in a recent hearing, the same panel imposed the most lenient penalty possible ‹ public censure. A public censure merely consists of a reprimand included as an entry on Dr. Taylor¹s license and the publication of his name and address in the association¹s newsletter. The panel¹s choices in disciplining the vet included requiring the completion of an education course, a fine, a suspension, and a revocation of his license. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) " declined comment " on the Taylor case except to point out that some people fail to recognize the dangers that their animals can pose to veterinary clinic staff members. Please send a polite letter to the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and ask them to acknowledge the real victim in this case ‹ Melanie ‹ and take steps to ensure that this kind of unprofessional and inhumane behavior is not tolerated by the Canadian veterinary community in the future. Dr. J. Eye, President Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association 15 Cobequid Rd. Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia B4C 2M9 Canada Ms. Janet Mercer Canadian Veterinary Medical Association 339 Booth St. Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7K1 Canada ___ For the latest action alerts and campaign updates, be sure to check out PETA's Web site at http://www.peta-online.org. To or to this list, please visit http://www.peta-online.org/alert/subs.html _______ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 757-622-PETA http://www.peta-online.org _______ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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