Schaumburg Ford Praised for Slamming the Brakes on Scheduled Lion Appearance

Dealership Reaches Decision After PETA Warns of Animal Suffering, Risk to Customers’ Safety

For Immediate Release:
June 3, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

The atmosphere at Bob Rohrman Schaumburg Ford this past Saturday was a little less wild than originally planned, thanks to the dealership’s smart decision to cancel plans to exhibit a captive lion. The decision came after PETA and concerned members of the public contacted management and pointed out how lions and other big cats used for promotions are kept confined almost constantly and are carted from venue to venue with little regard for their welfare. PETA also noted that customers would have been placed at risk by the presence of such a powerful and potentially dangerous animal.

“Big cats used in exhibits are denied everything that’s natural and important to them, which can lead to severe frustration and aggression,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “Schaumburg Ford made the humane and security-conscious decision, recognizing that mixing animal suffering and vulnerable members of the public is a recipe for disaster.”

Attacks by lions and other big cats are all too common, often leading to serious injury or death. Captive animals, who naturally shun human contact, live in perpetual states of confinement, discomfort, and stress. They are subjected to a constant barrage of strange noises, activity, and people trying to touch them. They often become despondent and develop neurotic, self-destructive behavior, including pacing and self-mutilation. Cruel practices, including withholding food and water to avoid elimination, are routine.

Just last month, a Porsche dealership in Cary, N.C., canceled plans to exhibit tiger cubs after hearing from PETA. Porsche’s U.S. headquarters then asked that all dealerships refrain from exhibiting any animals whatsoever in the future.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.