April 2003 Alaska, one of the Suarez Bros. Circus’ “Suarez Seven” polar bears, was rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) based on research by PETA that raised questions about the bear’s identity. The USFWS used DNA testing to prove conclusively that Alaska was not, in fact, the polar bear who had been born … Read more »
April 2003 When PETA learned that goldfish were being used in beer funneling contests in a Miami, Florida, bar, we contacted the Department of Business and Professional Regulations to ask that it investigate the bar for health code violations. Reports indicated that goldfish were being dropped into funnels, and bar patrons were being encouraged to swallow … Read more »
April 2003 PETA learned that four sororities at the University of Texas at Arlington had participated in a greased-pig contest, which was held as a fundraiser for local charities. News reports indicated that the terrified pig was covered in petroleum jelly and repeatedly grabbed at and mishandled, “kicking and squealing,” by the participants. Pigs used in … Read more »
April 2003 PETA received complaints that Festival Foods in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, allowed Bridgeport Nature Center to operate in its parking lot. The Nature Center, in reality a traveling tiger exhibit, has been cited numerous times by the USDA for putting animals and the public at serious risk of injury, for transporting tigers in poorly ventilated cages, … Read more »
April 2003 PETA was contacted by residents and students who were upset that three area schools in the Merced Union High School District had participated in a donkey basketball game that was held as a fundraiser for the district’s Future Farmers of America [FFA] program. Photos printed in local newspapers showed participants pulling and yanking on … Read more »
April 2003 Visitors to Guam contacted PETA after spotting banners with Miller’s trademark promoting cockfighting at a local festival. We immediately contacted Miller to ask that the company disassociate itself from the cruel bloodsport and posted an action alert on the Web. After corresponding with PETA, Miller issued a statement to its distributor in Guam stating … Read more »
April 2003 PETA received a complaint from a former employee of Six Flags, the second-largest amusement park operator in the world. The whistleblower described horrific conditions at its Wild Safari facility in New Jersey, including an incident in which a baboon had been hit by a vehicle in the drive-through safari and dragged approximately 150 feet. … Read more »
April 2003 Since a tiger escaped in 1999 from a New Jersey tiger menagerie called Tigers Only Preservation Society (TOPS), the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife had been working to have the dozens of big cats moved to a facility in Texas. State and federal agencies found that the current enclosure was too small … Read more »
April 2003 Calgary, Alberta, residents contacted us to let us know about the Calgary Stampede’s cruel chuckwagon races. At last year’s nine-day event, seven animals were killed: * A calf suffered a broken leg during a roping event and was euthanized.* A horse used in the chuckwagon event suffered a heart attack-induced aneurism and died.* Five … Read more »
April 2003 PETA received a call from a Milwaukee activist who was desperately trying to get live turtle races canceled at a local bar. We immediately contacted the Milwaukee Health Department to provide documentation of the risk of salmonella contamination associated with reptiles, especially in a food-service establishment, and we asked the agency to investigate. We … Read more »
April 2003 PETA got an anonymous call about two iguanas being kept as decorations at a restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland. The complainant reported that the iguanas were being kept in a filthy enclosure and that they appeared ill. We immediately contacted officials at the local animal control bureau asking them to check on the welfare of … Read more »
April 2003 Employees of Canadian airline WestJet Airlines contacted us when they learned, just two days in advance, that the company planned to include a live tiger at its anniversary party. We immediately contacted the company’s CEO to explain about the cruelty and dangers associated with exotic animal displays. We received a call from a WestJet … Read more »
April 2003 Students from a Bel Air, Maryland, high school contacted us when they learned that their school planned to hold a donkey basketball game. We immediately contacted the school’s principal and the district superintendent to alert them to the cruelty associated with the spectacle. We sent an alert to our area members asking them to … Read more »
January 2003 PETA received countless complaints about an incident in Cleburne County, Arkansas, in which four lions roaming freely near an exotic animal menagerie had to be shot to death because there was no effective method of capture available. The owner of the menagerie claimed that the lions were dumped on his property and took no … Read more »
January 2003 PETA learned that the promoter of an event modeled after Spain’s abusive “Running of the Bulls” was planning to encourage Reno, Nevada, officials to hold the spectacle in their city. We immediately faxed the president of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, with whom the promoter was scheduled to meet, as well as the … Read more »
