Washington High School Boosters Criticized for Tiger Cub Mascots

Government Report Reveals Stump Hill Farm’s Violations of Federal Law: PETA Calls On Club to Stop Using Animal Mascots

For Immediate Release:
January 12, 2015

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection report on Stump Hill Farm—the facility at which Washington High School’s Massillon Tiger Booster Club reportedly discarded the school’s most recent tiger cub mascot—has revealed a lengthy list of violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including the injury of a tiger cub, numerous instances of cramped and unsafe living conditions for animals, and interference with federal authorities. That’s why PETA sent a letter to the Washington High School boosters this morning calling on them to spare animals by dropping the cruel, dangerous practice.

“Stump Hill Farm is no place for tigers, just as a football game full of loud spectators is no place for any wild animal, especially babies traumatically taken from their mothers,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA is calling on Washington High School’s boosters to leave live animals out of the game and send a message to students that it’s never OK to exploit and terrify animals for a few minutes of entertainment.”

Stump Hill Farm has a long history of failing to meet even minimal federal requirements for housing and caring for animals. Its previous USDA citations include keeping tigers and leopards in ramshackle cages and putting animals at risk of escaping by having an insecure perimeter fence, which included a 12-inch hole, around the facility. The agency has also cited the facility for illegally declawing a tiger and for jamming tigers in cages so small that the animals couldn’t move freely.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.