Groupon’s Wild-Animal Act Deals Trigger PETA Shareholder Resolution

PETA Urges Executives, Board Members to Stop Supporting Cruel Treatment of Animals in Circuses and Marine Parks

For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2016

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Despite hearing from PETA that animals used by circuses and abusement parks such as SeaWorld endure chronic abuse and deprivation, Groupon has continued promoting deals for notoriously cruel animal acts—including UniverSoul Circus and Ringling Bros., whose handlers were caught on video beating and jabbing elephants with bullhooks, weapons with a sharp metal hook on one end. Now PETA—which owns stock in the company—is submitting a shareholder resolution calling on Groupon to end all promotions featuring animals exploited for entertainment.

“Increasingly, consumers are turning away from companies that subject animals to a lifetime of deprivation and abuse,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA calls on Groupon to hold itself to ethical standards and end promotions that are cruel to animals.”

The long list of disreputable outfits promoted by Groupon also includes Circus Gatti, Shrine circuses, and the Miami Seaquarium—where lone orca Lolita has languished in the smallest, oldest orca tank in the U.S. without seeing another member of her species for more than 35 years.

Many companies—including MasterCard, Visa, Ford Motor Company, Sears, Lucky Brand Jeans, and Kellogg’s, as well as online deal companies such as Gilt Groupe, Travelzoo, and Savings.com—have ended promotions of animal-based entertainment acts.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.