Notorious Ramos Bros. Circus Racks Up More Animal Welfare Violations

After PETA Complaint, Feds Cite Circus for Lack of Veterinary Care, Unsafe Housing

For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Following an official complaint by PETA based on a citizen’s report that at least one camel at the Las Vegas–based Ramos Bros. Circus was suffering from an apparent medical condition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited the circus for failing to have an up-to-date veterinary program, to trim camels’ and llamas’ overgrown hooves—an often painful condition—and to house animals safely, among other violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

“The authorities have confirmed what members of the public keep reporting to PETA: that animals are suffering at Ramos Bros. Circus,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA is urging everyone who cares about animals to refuse to buy a ticket to any circus that exploits them for profit.”

According to the April 17 USDA report, which just became publicly available, Ramos Bros. has not updated its veterinary-care program since 2010. The USDA further noted that, among other issues, the circus was traveling without alerting the agency—making it difficult for it to inspect the animals—and that animals were housed in enclosures with rusty, broken fences.

Past action against Ramos Bros. includes an official warning in January 2013 after a camel was allowed to escape and head toward traffic, endangering herself and the public. PETA has received numerous recent reports from the public regarding animals suffering at Ramos Bros., including camels with apparent cattle-prod burn marks and infections on their legs, a camel who had a seizure during a performance, and dogs kept in a trailer without air conditioning.

For more information, please visit PETA’s blog.