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For immediate release:
September 22, 2021
Contact:
David Pearl 202-483-7382
Trautman, North Carolina – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited Zootastic Park for failing to provide animals with adequate veterinary care and noted that the tails of two squirrels at the facility were amputated due to apparent “self-harm.” The quotes came after PETA twice warned the agency that Prevo’s squirrel appeared to have suffered a tail injury at a roadside zoo.
PETA also warned the USDA of an injured wolf that appears to be suffering from raiding, a painful condition in which the larvae feed on flesh. During the inspection, the agency found three wolves with open wounds and thick, hard scabs on their ears, “consistent with chronic flies,” but the veterinarian did not report the severity of the disease. In addition, the USDA cited Zootastic after finding several rats feeding on food in a Patagonian guinea pig and chicken enclosure.
“The animals in this rundown facility were neglected, which resulted in two squirrels having their tails amputated and flies eating three wolf ears,” says Debbie Metzler, deputy director of animal law enforcement at PETA. “PETA encourages Zootastic to send all animals to reputable facilities before receiving the next link.”
Zootastic has a track record of obtaining federal references to PETA complaints. Earlier this year, the USDA cited a roadside zoo that failed to notice that several animals were lame after PETA notified the agency that the goats were hobbling. And in 2019, after hearing from PETA, the USDA cited Zootastic for showing a clearly worried young tiger – which was shown in a Facebook video lying, unresponsive, and panting – at a public event.
PETA – whose motto is partly that “animals are not ours to be used for entertainment” – opposes arrogance, a worldview focused on human excellence. For more information on PETA news gathering and reporting visit PETA.org or subscribe to the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram…
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