Fair’s bear show has history of animal, Missouri State Fair defends health of show audience safety violations after guest concerns

An exhibitor was cited by the USDA for allowing the public to have unsafe close encounters with adult bears (left). Visitors were upset to see tigers who appeared emaciated displayed at the Missouri State Fair (right). Wild Animals: Out of Place at County and State Fairs The display of wild and exotic animals—many of which are dangerous species—is at odds with the purpose of state and county fairs, which are intended to highlight and promote agriculture and agricultural activities. Exotic animal displays present a public safety risk, are detrimental to animal welfare, distract from educational efforts about the importance of agriculture, and undermine legitimate conservation efforts. Instead of providing entertainment, many of these exhibits attract unwanted controversy.

Animal Welfare infection during travel and public exhibition due to Wild animals such as tigers, bears, and monkeys their immature immune system.”1 are easily stressed by unfamiliar surroundings, loud noises, and crowds of people. Physical abuse Another exhibitor, Perry’s Wilderness Ranch, which is typically used to train and handle wild animals frequented fairs, festivals, and other venues was who perform tricks or are allowed contact with the cited by the USDA when three 11-day-old public. Animals used in such displays are subjected cubs died after being transported from Ohio to a to lengthy travel and confinement in cramped Colorado venue for photo ops with the public. The cages and poorly ventilated trailers. cubs had progressive health problems (vomiting, listlessness, dehydration), but Perry failed to seek Exotic animal exhibitors often feature baby animals veterinary care for them. Stress related to because they are easier to transport and popular transportation and handling likely contributed to with the public. But according to a U.S. their failed health.2 Two months later, Perry was Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector who again using tiger cubs for photo ops with the public cited an exhibitor at the Colorado State Fair for at the Pima County Fair until Arizona authorities violations related to an emaciated 4½-week old informed him he was in violation of state law that camel and the deaths of a 3-month-old yak from prohibits public contact with certain exotic whipworm and 22 other animals from unknown animals.3 causes, “Young animals are at risk for stress and

Lack of sufficient space and exercise is a problem for wild animals exhibited at fairs. While citing a tiger exhibitor who frequently exhibits at fairs for keeping six tigers in travel cages for two days, a USDA inspector wrote, “If animals are confined to small cages for extended periods of time they can suffer undue stress and discomfort behaviorally and physically which could lead to health issues and abnormal behavior patterns.”4

Conditions are no better during the off-season where animals may be kept in warehouse-like conditions, such as confining big cats and bears for months in undersized transport cages.5

Public Health and Safety Wild animals can transmit viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections to people, behave unpredictably, and have sharp teeth and claws that can inflict serious injury. Since rabies vaccines are not A bear and a liger (-tiger hybrid) legally approved for use in wild animals, if someone is bitten by an were kept in undersized travel cages—where they were unable to animal such as a monkey or a tiger cub used for photo opportunities at stand upright—at a fair exhibitor’s a fair, they may require rabies prevention shots that can cost as much home site for months during the off- as $10,000.6 The National Association of State Public Health season. Veterinarians (NASPHV) recognizes the inherent dangers of wild species and believes that “Direct contact with dangerous animals (e.g., nonhuman primates, certain carnivores, […]) should be completely prohibited.”7 Despite these warnings, public contact with wild animals is often a main feature with many fair exhibitors. Following are examples of dangerous incidents involving wild animals displayed at fairs, including instances where the public was invited to handle the animals:

CO-Colorado State Fair Four escaped, with two running loose for more than 20 minutes and approaching members of the public.8

FL-Pensacola Interstate Fair A trainer was knocked down and dragged by a tiger during a performance before group of horrified children. Another trainer charged in, leaving the performance cage door open, and started beating the tiger. Two tigers were in the cage at the time and could have bolted through the open door.9,10

FL-St. Johns County Fair A tiger attacked his handler and a 14-year-old boy as he was being walked on a leash. Police used stun guns to stop the attack.11

GA-Columbia County Fair A 17-month-old boy was bitten by a baboon.12

GA-Georgia Coastal Fair A spider monkey escaped and ran through the fair’s midway.13

GA-Perry County Fair A escaped from a cage and bit two bystanders.14

IA-Mississippi Valley Fair NM-New Mexico State Fair A monkey attacked a woman as she posed for a A tiger cub bit a man on the arm during a photo photograph with the animal, resulting in a lawsuit op, resulting in a lawsuit.20,21 against the fair and the exhibitor.15 NY-New York State Fair IL-Lake County Fair An elephant knocked down and stepped on the A man was bitten while having his photo taken trainer while carrying children on her back. A 3- with a 2-month-old lion cub.16 year-old girl was injured after falling off the elephant.22 MA-Marshfield Fair A tiger used for photo ops bit several people, NY-Saratoga County Fair including a 13-year-old girl who was rushed to the A 4-year-old boy was clawed by an adult tiger and emergency room. The exhibitor fled the state received 14 stitches for a 1-inch gash on his before authorities could quarantine the tiger.17 head.23,24 It was later discovered that the exhibitor had forged the insurance document he provided to MN-Winona County Fair the fair.25 An escaped capuchin monkey bit two people who had to undergo rabies prevention shots.18 TX-Harris County Fair A 4-year-old girl was mauled by a tiger during ND-North Dakota State Fair photo ops. The girl required stitches and $17,000 A 5-year-old boy suffered facial cuts that required in plastic surgery to her leg.26 plastic surgery after being attacked by a 4-month- old tiger cub at a photo booth.19

Kid-Friendly Alternatives Instead of wild animal attractions, there are many entertaining kid-friendly alternatives to include at fairs and festivals. Following are just few ideas:

 Contests . Tug of war  BMX bike stunt show . Potato sack race . Relay race  Dunk tank . Hula hoop  Inflatable climbing wall  Jugglers . Hair braiding  Inflatable bouncy house  Stilt walkers . Bubble gum blowing  Pet adoption event for the  Balloon artists . Watermelon seed spitting local animal shelter  Scavenger hunt . Duct tape art challenge  Life-like dinosaur shows  Superhero performers . Corn shucking  Child-friendly obstacle course  Knockerball . Bouncy ball race  Chainsaw carving  Acrobats . Musical chairs demonstration  Caricature artist . Bean bag toss  Magic act  Pirate performers . Amateur talent show  Face painters  Ventriloquist

Public Opinion is Changing The public has become increasingly aware of the plight of animals used in traveling shows and are opposed to their use for such exhibitions. Most people go to the fair for food, rides, carnival games, music, more food, and perhaps a glimpse of the state’s largest pumpkin. Featuring caged and restrained wild animals—bored and unable to express natural behaviors or forced to perform circus tricks—is more likely to generate complaints and less likely to attract visitors. In response, some fairs have canceled planned wild animal exhibitions, removed controversial animals from display, or implemented policies prohibiting certain species on fairground property. Citing concerns for public safety and animal welfare, one event management company that produces festivals, carnivals, and similar attractions adopted a policy prohibiting inherently dangerous wild animals at its events. A Poorly Regulated Industry Professionals vs. Carnival Sideshows Traveling shows may be inspected by the USDA The federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is so only once every year or two. USDA licenses are outdated that traveling shows can keep wild automatically renewed, even if a licensee has animals with complex needs in conditions that serious violations that remain uncorrected or are recognized as inhumane by today’s has been convicted of trafficking or standards, yet still comply with the law. For . And no agency monitors example, the Association of and Aquariums (AZA)—an organization that behind-the-scenes training sessions, where the accredits professionally-run zoos—recognizes most egregious abuse often occurs. that bears, tigers, and elephants require access

to pools, but there is no provision for pools in Given the number of escapes and attacks the AWA and traveling exhibitors typically do involving wild animals in traveling shows, it is not provide pools for these species. evident that secure housing and appropriate public safety barriers are often insufficient. In The AWA’s space requirement for tigers, bears, fact, inadequate public safety barriers is one of elephants, and most other regulated species is the more common citations issued by the USDA vague, specifying only room to allow animals to against exhibitors. make normal postural adjustments. The average exhibit size for tigers at AZA zoos is Dan Wallen, the operator of AnimalFest, 5,500 square feet.29 But tigers who live on the illustrates the lax oversight for traveling shows. road with traveling shows spend most of their AnimalFest features a variety of exotic and time in transport cages that provide each tiger 30 domestic animals in its petting zoo, parakeet with only about 16 square feet of space. encounters, and offers camel and pony rides at Unlike the AWA, the AZA also has common county fairs. Wallen’s USDA inspection reports sense requirements for escaped animal show no violations. Yet, in 2018 one of protocols and zoonotic disease training and Wallen’s wallabies escaped while the outfit was procedures. 27 traveling. And in 2019, when Wallen was arrested and charged with two counts of White tigers are a feature with some traveling domestic assault while exhibiting at the shows, but the AZA has a policy against Wadena County Fair in Minnesota an alert breeding white tigers.31 White tigers are not a police officer noticed the troubling condition of distinct subspecies of tiger, but merely an Wallen’s animals. aberrant color variation that is produced through inbreeding and has led to serious Authorities reportedly found eight pot-bellied congenital defects.32 pigs scratching themselves bloody from mange, a baby with an untreated broken foot, no No Conservation Value feed was available for -eating animals, and Studies show that substandard exhibition of four pot-bellied pigs were crammed into a dog undermines conservation carrier that was large enough for just one pig. efforts, decreases public awareness about the Other “reported abuse included the use of an plight of endangered species in the wild, extension cord to beat one of the animals and decreases donations to conservation programs, excessive roughness with a camel.”28 Wallen and provides a ready supply of endangered was subsequently charged with two counts of species and their high-valued parts that could cruelty to animals. A week earlier, a leak into an illegal trade that fuels the poaching veterinarian at the Hennepin County Fair and trafficking of endangered species in the signed off on Wallen’s necessary paperwork wild.33,34,35,36 after only briefly looking at the animals.

Recommendations Event organizers and venues can avoid problems associated with wild animal exhibitors by adopting a policy that prohibits certain species. Following is sample language:

[Event/venue] prohibits the exhibition of wild animals that are inherently dangerous as well as uniquely unsuited to frequent transport. Species that may pose a potential safety hazard to the public or raise concerns about their welfare in traveling shows include elephants, big cats, bears, primates, wolves, sea , sharks, giraffes, kangaroos, wallabies, and zebras. The [event/venue] is committed to supporting the humane treatment of animals and ensuring the comfort and enjoyment of our guests.

Fair Exhibitors Many, if not most, wild animal exhibitors who frequent fairs and festivals have histories of poor animal care and violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that include failure to provide animals with veterinary care, proper food, and adequate shelter as well as animal handling practices that endanger the public and the animals. It is not uncommon for these exhibitors to generate negative publicity for a venue. Some exhibitors have provided fairs with fraudulent liability insurance documents. After a child was injured by a tiger on display at the Saratoga County Fair in New York, it was discovered that the now-defunct exhibitor, Jeffrey Ash, had forged the insurance certificate he provided to the fair. Ash pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.37,38

Exhibition Issues

All Things In 2018, the USDA filed charges against Michael Todd and All Things Wild/White Tiger Wild, calling for the facility’s license to be revoked.39,40 According to the Discovery* USDA, All Things Wild, which features White Tiger Discovery, enables Michael Todd and Marcus Cook to circumvent a USDA license revocation order by Marcus Cook allowing Cook to continue his tiger exhibition at fairs under the license of Michael Todd’s All Things Wild. Cook’s license was revoked because he repeatedly endangered the lives of the viewing public, failed to provide veterinary care to sick, injured, and malnourished big cats, and abused a tiger with an electric prod.41,42

Since 2010, All Things Wild has been cited by the USDA for repeated failure to have employees with adequate experience and knowledge caring for and handling big cats, failure to safely handle big cats during public exhibition, repeatedly allowing the public to have unsafe access to adult tigers, repeated failure to provide veterinary care, failure to feed tigers a nutritious diet, repeated failure to provide clean drinking water, filthy enclosures, refusing an inspection, and numerous other violations.43

In 2015, when Todd claimed to be insured by the New York-based “Seacoast Agency,” it was discovered that the insurance company did not exist, prompting the New York State Department of Financial Services to refer the matter for criminal investigation.44 In 2019, organizers of the Dakota County Fair in Minnesota voted unanimously to terminate a contract to feature All Things Wild’s tiger display at the upcoming fair after learning of concerns about the attraction.45

Amazing Rainforest Amazing Rainforest Adventures caused a flood of complaints and Adventures negative media attention when it appeared at the 2015 Missouri State Robert Mullen Fair. Fair visitors reported that the tigers, who were forced to perform circus tricks, appeared emaciated—they had visible spines and hip bones—were sluggish, and appeared to be drugged. experts, as well as a former employee of Robert Mullen, speculated that the tigers were intentionally underfed so that they would be motivated to Exhibition Issues

perform for food.46,47 Mullen also generated negative media attention for the 2013 Barnstable County Fair in Massachusetts after a video of Mullen’s act was posted on the internet showing what appeared to be emaciated big cats forced to perform and a cougar dragged by his collar.48 The USDA has cited Mullen six times since 2017 for being unavailable for the agency to conduct an animal welfare inspection.49

Aussie Kingdom The USDA has cited Aussie Kingdom, operated by Carolyn Lantz, three Carolyn Lantz times for being unavailable for the agency to conduct an animal welfare inspection, as well as poor sanitation, failure to provide animals with clean drinking water, and facilities in disrepair.50 Lantz, based in Colorado, supported a proposal that would allow residents to keep kangaroos and wallabies as pets.51

Banana Derby Banana Derby is an act that many find offensive. Capuchin monkeys Phil Dolci are tethered to the backs of dogs who run around an area intended to resemble a racing track. Commissioners of Lake County, Illinois, along with the presidents of the Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo urged the Lake County Fair Association Board to cancel the event, explaining the act created serious concerns for animal welfare.52 Public outcry over Banana Derby’s appearance at a Florida fair led Alachua County commissioners to ban primates from the fairgrounds.53,54 One of Phil Dolci’s capuchin monkeys escaped while performing in Springdale, Ohio, and was found the next day, damp and hungry.55,56 Dolci has been cited three times by the USDA for failing to provide minimum space to primates, for caging the monkeys in solitary confinement, for keeping a dog in a crate that was less than half the bare minimum size required by the federal Animal Welfare Act, and for repeatedly providing false and erroneous information to federal inspectors in an apparent attempt to avoid inspections.57

Bears of Bearadise Falsely cloaked as an “educational presentation,” Welde’s Bears of Ranch Bearadise Ranch features an outdated circus show that consists of Monica Welde collared and leashed bears who balance and stand upright on an oversized ball, catch plastic rings tossed at them and place them around their neck, pick up and carry a basketball and drop it in a net, climb a ladder and pop a balloon, walk upright pushing a cart, and sit upright and clap. The Weldes’ interactions with the bears are likely to give people—especially children—the idea that it’s okay to approach and interact with bears and also glamorizes the private ownership of exotic animals, thereby inducing the public to obtain wild animals as pets. The Weldes admit that they have hand-raised most of their bears from infancy. This means that the babies were forcibly removed from their mothers within days of birth. Bears have strong maternal instincts, and premature separation is psychologically cruel to both the infants and their mothers.

Bengal Tiger Bengal Tiger Encounter operates under the license of Joe Frisco’s Encounter Wonderful World of Animals. The tiger act caused controversy for the Felicia Frisco Kandiyohi County Fair in Minnesota when the fair posted photos on its Facebook page of Frisco’s apparently grossly overweight tigers Exhibition Issues

performing circus tricks, sparking concerns about the tigers’ welfare.58 Obesity can cause damage to internal organs, contribute to arthritis and other painful joint conditions, and cause heart disease and other problems.59 Frisco claimed the photos were old and the tigers were pregnant at the time or had recently been pregnant. In 2016, Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Florida announced it would no longer feature Frisco’s controversial tiger act in its seasonal display.60

Blaszak’s Royal Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers Show has been cited by the USDA for Bengal Tigers Show failure to provide minimum space to six tigers who were kept for two Ada and Bruno Blaszak days in travel cages and unable to stretch and walk, structurally unsound tiger enclosures with excessive rust and jagged edges, and inadequate perimeter fencing to protect the animals and restrict access by unauthorized persons.61 While performing at a festival in Wisconsin, a tiger charged at Blaszak, knocked him down, and clawed him, causing injuries that required 30 to 40 stitches.62

Buffalo Beal’s The USDA filed charges in 2014 against Buffalo Beal’s Animal Park for Animal Park failure to provide veterinary care to sick animals, repeated failure to Terry Beal have employees present to monitor public interaction with approximately 100 animals, failure to have adequate safety barriers, numerous animal escapes including a macaque monkey who escaped and attacked a 3-year-old child, filthy cages, enclosures in disrepair, inadequate shelter, an insufficient number of adequately trained employees, failure to provide environment enrichment to primates, failure to provide animals with wholesome, uncontaminated food, and rodent-infested conditions.63 In a 2016 consent decision, the USDA ordered Buffalo Beal’s to get rid of all its primates, imposed a 1-month license suspension, and issued 1-year probation period.64 Shortly after the probation period expired, the USDA again cited Buffalo Beal’s for AWA violations, including failure to provide veterinary care to sick animals.65

Casady’s Critters Casady’s Critters brings baby monkeys to fairs for photo ops with the Heidi Casady public. Owner Heidi Casady has been cited by the USDA for failure to include capuchin monkeys in the program of veterinary care and failure to provide a written environmental enrichment plan for primates.66 In 2009, Casady was found guilty of cruelty to animals for starving six dogs.67

Close Encounters of Close Encounters of the Exotic Kind big cat show has been cited by the the Exotic Kind USDA for failure to provide minimum space to four tigers and three Vincent Von Duke and lions who were housed during the off-season in a travel trailer, failure Georgina Donoho to maintain the tiger transport trailer, outdoor training cage, and perimeter fencing in good repair, failure to have an environment enrichment program to promote the psychological well-being of lemurs, failure to provide big cats with nutritional supplements as instructed by the attending veterinarian in order to prevent dietary insufficiencies that may lead to long-term metabolic problems, and failure on four occasions to have a responsible adult available for the USDA to conduct an animal welfare inspection.68 Exhibition Issues

Commerford Petting In 2006, while giving rides at a fair in Massachusetts, a Commerford Zoo elephant with a history of dangerous incidents attacked and injured two employees.69,70,71 Previously, a 3-year-old girl was injured at a state fair after falling off an elephant who had panicked and stepped on her trainer.72,73 In an incident at the New York State Fair, an elephant picked up a handler with her trunk and threw him against a trailer, breaking his shoulder and jaw. Two children were riding the elephant at the time. Years earlier, an elephant attacked a worker and broke his arm.74,75 In 2019, a local Republican organization in Pennsylvania announced it would no longer feature Commerford’s elephant in its annual Fourth of July parade.76

Emerson Farms Emerson Farms Petting Zoo has been cited by the USDA for failure to Petting Zoo have an adequate number of attendants after a teenager was bitten by Tim Emerson a capuchin monkey at the Brockton Fair in Massachusetts, failure to have an environment enhancement plan for primates, muddy, filthy enclosures, and repeated failure to be available for animal welfare inspections.77,78,79

Eudora Farms Since 2001, Eudora Farms has been cited by the USDA for more than Mark Nisbet 115 violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including:  11 veterinary care violations, such as failure to provide veterinary care to lame and injured animals.  17 violations for maintenance issues, including for a macaque who broke out of a cage and killed four lemurs.  11 violations for failure to provide adequate environment enrichment, including for primates exhibiting psychological distress.  9 violations for failure to provide minimum space, including housing three baboons in a cage that measured only 4feet in diameter. Eudora Farms has also been cited for mishandling animals who were showing signs of heat stress while the heat index soared to 109 degrees, inadequate shelter, filthy conditions, and inadequate safety barriers, including for three baboons and a macaque monkey “with the potential for the spread of disease” being touched by members of the public, and a lemur escape that resulted in two bystanders being bitten.80 In 2007, a 17-month-old boy was bitten by a baboon on display with Eudora Farms at the Columbia County Fair in Georgia.81 In 2017, a kangaroo escaped from Eudora Farms while being exhibited at the Trumansburg Fair in New York and was spotted sitting in the middle of a nearby road.82 In 2015, parakeets escaped from a walk- through exhibit at the Delaware County Fair in New York.83

Grizzly Experience A Grizzly Experience has been cited by the USDA for: Dexter Osborn  Allowing a bear to escape from an unlocked cage. State wildlife officials spent $5,800 searching for the bear for three days. The bear was eventually found several blocks away.84,85  Housing a bear cub in a travel enclosure with a 110-degree heat index.86  Failure to provide a perimeter fence around a trailer that was being used as a primary enclosure for three bears.87 Exhibition Issues

 Failure to repair an enclosure with large gaps that could allow the bear to escape.88 In 2017, a young grizzly bear clawed a handler’s face during the marshmallow-feeding portion of Osborn’s exhibition at the Saratoga County Fair in New York. A witness described the bear as being agitated for several minutes before the attack. The show was abruptly cancelled as the handler walked into a trailer with blood streaming from his face.89 Osborn spends months at a time on the road, hauling bears in small transport cages to fairs, festivals, sports shows, and similar venues, and has even subjected the bears to 4,700-mile trip to Hawaii (each way), which included five days in the cargo hold of a ship. Once at their destinations, they perform silly tricks in often sweltering summer heat and are fed unhealthy food treats of marshmallows and soda pop.

Haai Shark The Haai Shark Encounter is a distasteful and controversial shark show Encounter that keeps three or more up to 7-feet long nurse sharks in a mobile Philip Peters aquarium built into a tractor-trailer. The barren 5,000-gallon tank (approximately equivalent to the size of 50 bathtubs) denies the animals the rich sensory experiences of their natural environment, including the ability to swim freely, hunt, and forage for food. As theme music from Jaws plays over loudspeakers, a diver enters the tank to mishandle and harass the sharks who would normally avoid contact with humans. Sharks are afforded no federal protection under the Animal Welfare Act, so acts such as Peters’ go virtually unregulated. Sharks have extraordinary sensory systems that are especially sensitive to vibrations. The pounding vibrations of traveling in a truck as well as the amplified noise during the act no doubt cause stress. Constant travel and daily show times are likely disruptive to the sleep cycles of these nocturnal sea-dwellers.

Hedrick’s Hedrick’s Promotions provides fairs with exotic animal displays and Promotions other animal attractions and has a history of problems: Joe Hedrick  Since 2008, Hedrick has been cited by the USDA for numerous AWA violations including failure to monitor public interactions with animals, enclosures in disrepair, enclosures inadequate to safely contain animals, inadequate shade for 12 camels, and failure to be available for animal welfare inspections.90  In 2018, an SUV driver was hospitalized, and a zebra was killed after two zebras escaped at the Ostrich Festival in Chandler, Arizona and darted into traffic.91  In 2017, officials with the State Fair of Texas removed a giraffe after visitors expressed concern about the giraffe’s frantic pacing and inability to stand upright in a cramped enclosure.92  According to the boy’s father, a 3-year-old was hospitalized with a serious complication of E. coli that can cause kidney failure after riding a camel and petting at the Hedrick's petting zoo at a South Dakota fair in 2008.93 Exhibition Issues

 In 2006, five camels and a zebra escaped from Hedrick’s exotic animal farm in Kansas, causing two traffic accidents that killed four of the camels.94

Monkeys There are several exhibitors, including “monkey man” Jerry Brown and Various exhibitors Jesse Moore and Sunshine Monkeyshines, who dress capuchin monkeys in human clothing, tether them with a leash, and bring them to fairs and other events to interact with the public. The monkeys typically have had their teeth extracted—a painful procedure that violates the Animal Welfare Act—because monkeys are wild animals who can be aggressive and inflict serious bite wounds. In addition to the obvious cruelty of keeping primates in socially isolated, unnatural conditions that deprive them of the opportunity to express natural behaviors, monkey exhibitors carelessly expose primates to potentially serious illnesses from people. Capuchin monkeys are highly susceptible to the common human cold and other respiratory illnesses as well as measles, chicken pox, and other viral diseases common in humans, and they may develop Type II diabetes if fed an improper diet and deprived of appropriate physical activity.95

Nerger’s Tiger Show The USDA cited Nerger’s Tiger Show for failure to have a show ring Judit and Juergen with fencing panels adequate to contain 10 tigers during performances Nerger at the Warren County Fair in Ohio and failure to provide minimum space to 13 tigers who were kept in 4-foot high, 8-foot square cages with two and three tigers per cage while on the road for 8-9 months a year.96 At the 2019 Summit County Fair in Ohio, Nerger was cited for allowing the public to feed adult tigers in a manner that had the potential for contact with the tiger, a deficient show ring that could allow a tiger to climb or jump out during performances, and failure to provide minimum space to tigers who were kept in 4-foot high, 8-foot square cages.97

In 2017, witnesses who attended a show at the Martin County Fair in Florida reported that a tiger became extremely distressed, agitated, and began panting when the “trainer kept jabbing him in the throat with a stick, hitting him in the face.” The Nergers ended the show because the tiger could not be controlled. The crowd then began to stampede after witnesses said a tiger got loose as they were being returned to their transport cages. One witness said the Nergers had no plan for the safe evacuation of fair goers in the event of a tiger escape and “everyone was running and screaming in fear” with 20 people huddling inside a horse trailer.98 The Nergers denied that a tiger escaped.

Sea Lion Splash* Sea Lion Splash has been cited repeatedly by the USDA for failure to Marco Peters provide its sea lions with veterinary care and minimum space, failure to maintain proper water quality or to even perform routine water quality tests, and failure to have staff with adequate training and knowledge as evidenced by staff’s inability to recognize and report serious, painful eye conditions in the sea lions, employees who were unaware that sea Exhibition Issues

lions must be provided with adequate shade, and other mishandling and husbandry issues. Sea Lion Splash was also cited for failure to follow a veterinarian’s recommendation to conduct further diagnostics to check for the possibility of active Leptospirosis infection in two sea lions after titers for the disease had previously been found in both animals.99 Leptospirosis is a contagious bacterial infection of the kidneys that is transmissible to humans through contact with contaminated water, urine, or soil.100,101

Terranova Terranova Enterprises caused controversy at the Williamson County Enterprises Fair in Tennessee after local media discovered its USDA violations and Doug Terranova a pending federal complaint that charged the company has “not shown good faith” and “they have continued to mishandle dangerous animals LICENSE REVOKED and to fail to comply with the AWA and the regulations.” It listed AUGUST 30, 2019 dozens of citations from 2007 to 2013, that included failing to properly watch and care for elephants, camels, a mountain lion and tigers and failure to provide an appropriate diet to a young tiger.102 In 2016, Doug Terranova was fined $21,550 for Animal Welfare Act violations and failure to obey a cease and desist order and his USDA license was suspended for 30 days.103 In August 2019, Terranova and his company were fined $64,700 and his license was permanently revoked.104

Walk on the Wild The USDA has cited Walk on the Wild Side for allowing unsafe public Side contact with a juvenile tiger during off-site exhibition, potentially Steve Higgs and Cheryl exposing a 2-week-old tiger and two 3-week old bobcats to pathogens Jones and causing stress by transporting the infants across the country, inadequate perimeter fencing around lion and bear cages, enclosures in disrepair, failure to adequately clean a foul-smelling, poorly ventilated room containing primates, “pocket pets,” and birds, inadequate shelter, and failure on multiple occasions to have a responsible adult available for the USDA inspector to conduct an animal welfare inspection.105

Walk on the Wild Side caused controversy in Clackamas County, Oregon, for zoning and building code violations as well as complaints from neighbors that animals were kept in small, filthy cages. A code enforcement officer found garbage piled against animal cages, exposed wires and electrical work installed without a permit in a barn that housed reptiles, inoperable vehicles left on the property, and illegally occupied RVs. The couple relocated its to the suburbs in Washington County despite being warned by officials that the property was not zoned for exotic animal exhibits and were subsequently fined $10,000.106,107,108,109

Wild About Monkeys Wild About Monkeys was cited by the USDA for allowing the public to Kevin Keith have direct contact with an adult male baboon who was not under the control of a handler during photo ops at the Tulsa State Fair, failure to have direct control over a baboon and capuchin monkey during a show at the Ohio State Fair, and failure to have a current program of veterinary care.110 Exhibition Issues

Wild World of The USDA cited Wild World of Animals for unsafe handling of a 3-year- Animals old male leopard who was brought on stage while restrained with only Grant Kemmerer a leash attached to Kemmerer’s waist. The inspector wrote, “If the leopard decided to leap from the platform it is doubtful that the handler could restrain the animal to prevent it from going close to or contacting the viewing public.” Kemmerer has also been cited five times since 2011 for failure to have a responsible adult available for the USDA inspector to conduct an animal welfare inspection and for failure to provide a lion and a tiger with structurally sound caging to prevent escape.111

Wolves of the World Wolves of the World features wolves and wolf-hybrids performing Sharon Sandlofer circus tricks, such as walking up and down a ramp, sitting on a pedestal, stepping into a shallow pool, jumping up in the air for a piece of food, walking on a barrel, and walking across pieces of pipe. Since 2011, Wolves of the World has been cited by the USDA for failure to provide adequate cooling to wolves who were panting in a trailer that reached 98 degrees, repeated failure to have a complete program of veterinary care that included details on vaccinations and parasite control, failure to have required veterinary care, exercise program, and other records available for the inspector, and four times for being unavailable for the agency to conduct an animal welfare inspection.

Woody’s Menagerie* Woody’s Menagerie is a traveling zoo that tours the country from Gregg Woody Alaska to Florida and exhibits primarily at fairs. Woody has had bears and African lions slaughtered, presumably for their meat.112 In July 2015 the USDA filed a complaint against Woody for serious and repeat AWA violations that included failure to provide veterinary care to injured, sick, and dying animals, the death of two tigers from heat stress, failure to provide minimum space to bears and big cats, failure to provide animals with adequate shelter during bitterly cold winter conditions, and filthy enclosures.113 In a 2016 settlement agreement, the USDA fined Woody $8,000, suspended his license for 90 days, and imposed a one-year probation.114 Since the settlement, Woody has been cited for mis-handling a distressed 65-pound bear cub at the Linn County Fair in Iowa, failure to provide minimum space to a 5-month old tiger, filthy cages, exhibiting and dealing animals while having a suspended license, refusing an inspection, and harassing inspectors.115

*Detailed factsheet available

**

1 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, 5 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Camp Junction, 74-C-0880, August 31, 2012. Gregg Woody, 33-C-0218, January 12, 2012. 2 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, 6 Sarah Kliff, “Why a simple, lifesaving rabies shot can Perry’s Wilderness Ranch, 42-C-0101, February 27, 2003. cost $10,000 in America,” Vox, February 7, 2018. 3 Eric Sagara, “Feds probe owner of petting zoo at fair,” 7 NASPHV, Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Tucson Citizen, April 26, 2003. Association with Animals in Public Settings, JAVMA Vol. 4 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Ada 243 No. 9 (Nov. 1, 2013), available at and Bruno Blaszak, 58-C-0427, November 2, 2012. PLoS ONE Vol.10(2) (2015), http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journ https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/10.2460/javma.2 al.pone.0118487. 43.9.1270. 34 Stephen R. Ross et al., Specific Image Characteristics 8 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Influence Attitudes about Chimpanzee Conservation and Camp Junction, 74-C-0880, August 31, 2012. Use as Pets, PLoS One 6(7) (July 13, 2011), 9 Jackalyn Kovac, “Federal investigation shuts down tiger http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journ show,” WEAR-TV, October 26, 2016. al.pone.0022050. 10 Joshua Rhett Miller, “Kids watch in horror as tiger 35 Kara Schroepfer et al., Use of “Entertainment” attacks trainer,” New York Post, October 26, 2016. Chimpanzees in Commercials Distorts Public Perception 11 “Teen, police tell of tiger attack,” MSNBC, November Regarding Their Conservation Status, PLoS One 6(10) 22, 2004. (Oct. 12. 2011), 12 Barclay Bishop, “Columbia County Fair Monkey http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journ Business, A 17-month-old boy was bitten by a baboon at al.pone.0026048. the Columbia County Fair,” WJBF, November 8, 2007. 36 D.F. Williamson & L.A. Henry, Paper Tigers: The Role of 13 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, the U.S. Captive Tiger Population in the Trade in Tiger Brian Staples, 91-C-0060, October 30, 2003. Parts, TRAFFIC North America and World Wildlife Fund 14 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, (2008), Eudora Farms, #56-C-0118, October 16, 2015. https://www.wwf.or.jp/activities/lib/pdf_wildlife/conserva 15 “Alleged monkey attack sparks lawsuit,” Associated tion/papertiger0808.pdf. Press, July 20, 2003. 37 Charles Fiegl, “Owner of tiger that clawed boy faces 16 USDA Decision and Order re Craig Perry, AWA Docket forgery charge,” The Post Star, January 28, 2007. No. 05-0026, March 29, 2012; pgs. 28, 35, 37. 38 Christen Gowan, “Greenwich game farm to lose big 17 Letter from Thomas French, Assistant Director, animals,” Times Union, November 20, 2007. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, to Heidi 39 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Complaint, Michael Riggs, Bridgeport , March 25, 1998. Todd dba All Things Wild, AWA Docket Nos. 18-00067 18 Jeff Dankert, “Monkey chase leads to quarantined and 18-0068, August 15, 2018. animal and two people seeking rabies shots,” Winona 40 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Order to Show Cause Daily News, July 8, 2004. Why Animal Welfare Act License 33-C-0388 Should Not 19 “Boy clawed by tiger at N.D. fair,” Associated Press, be Terminated, Michael Todd dba All Things Wild, AWA July 31, 1998. Docket No. 18-00069, August 15, 2018. 20 “White tiger cub removed from fair for biting man,” 41 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Complaint, KOB-TV, September 14, 2000. Respondents ZooCats, Marcus Cook, and others, AWA 21 Eric Sagara, “Feds probe owner of petting zoo at fair,” Docket No. 03-0035, September 30, 2003. Tucson Citizen, April 26, 2003. 42 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Amended Complaint, 22 Andrena Irvin, “Elephant panics; two hurt,” Herald- Respondents ZooCats, Marcus Cook, and others, AWA Journal, August 28, 1998. Docket No. 03-0035, May 8, 2007. 23 “Tiger Scratches 4-year-old Boy,” WXXA-TV, July 18, 43 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, All 2006. Things Wild, 33-C-0388, August 18, 2010 through 24 Kevin Goodwin, “Boy doing fine after tiger gets wild,” February 27, 2019. Record, July 20, 2006. 44 Anna Lembersky. Letter to Lewis David Crary. April 3, 25 Charles Fiegl, “Owner of tiger that clawed boy faces 2015. forgery charge,” The Post Star, January 28, 2007. 45 Erin Adler, “Controversial white tiger exhibit nixed at 26 “Relatives sue over attack by tiger,” Associated Press, Dakota County Fair,” Star Tribune, July 1, 2019. May 6, 1999. 46 Ameena Schelling, “‘Skeleton’ tiger trainer allegedly 27 Joyce Russell, “Wallaby on the lam near Lowell after starved house cat,” The Dodo, August 21, 2015. escaping from petting zoo Wednesday morning,” 47 Samantha Kummerer, “Concerns voiced about nwi.com, June 7, 2018. conditions of state fair tigers,” KOMU, August 18, 2015. 28 Michael Johnson, “Petting zoo owner charged with 48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature= animal cruelty at Minnesota county fair,” Forum News youtu.be&v=uIhUHRy39UQ&app=desktop Service, June 20, 2019. 49 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, 29 AZA Tiger Species Survival Plan® (2016). Tiger Care Robert Mullen, 58-C-0771, December 19, 2017 through Manual. Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Silver May 21, 2019. Spring, MD. 50 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, 30 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, CJS Animal Adventures Inc. [Carolyn Lantz dba Aussie Judit and Juergen Nerger, 33-C-0452, July 19, 2017 and Kingdom], 84-C-0112, April 8, 2015 through April 10, July 25, 2019. 2018. 31 “Welfare and Conservation Implications of Intentional 51 Jonathan Romeo, “Wildlife panel considers pet sloths, Breeding for the Expression of Rare Recessive Alleles,” kangaroos for Coloradans,” Durango Herald, January 12, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Animal Welfare 2017. Committee: Taskforce on Animal Breeding Practices, 52 Adrienne Fawcett, “County Fair Asked To Cancel Approved by the AZA Board of Directors, June 2011. ‘Banana Derby’,” Daily North Shore, June 1, 2015. 32 Alan Green, Animal Underworld: Inside America's Black Market for Rare and Exotic Species. New York: Public Affairs, 1999. 33 Katherine A. Leighty et al., Impact of Visual Context on Public Perceptions of Non-Human Primate Performers, 79 Alyssa Meyers, "Monkey under observation after biting woman who was feeding him apples at Brockton Fair," 53 Alexandra Go, “County Fairground’s Animal Acts Boston Globe, July 7, 2017. Restriction Postponed, Includes Ban On Non-human 80 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, Primates,” WUFT News, February 24, 2016. Eudora Farms, 56-C-0118, July 18, 2001 through May 54 Alachua County Fairgrounds Rental Application Process, 17, 2016. Terms and Conditions for Fairgrounds Bookings, “Animals 81 Barclay Bishop, “Columbia County Fair Monkey - 1. Non-human primates are prohibited at the Business, A 17-month-old boy was bitten by a baboon at Fairgrounds,” April 13, 2016. the Columbia County Fair,” WJBF, November 8, 2007. 55 "Missing: 2 ft., 8 lb., monkey wearing blue pants; 82 Matt Steecker, “Kangaroo makes a break for it down T- Circus trainer seeks Dillion, who fled when frightened by burg highway,” Ithaca Journal, August 22, 2017. a train whistle," Associated Press, August 30, 2005. 83 Cheryl Petersen, “Walton gears up for 130th edition of 56 "Missing Circus Monkey Found; Circus Leaves Town county fair,” The Daily Star, August 12, 2016. Thursday," Associated Press, August 31, 2005. 84 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, 57 U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspection Reports, Grizzly Experience, 58-C-1039, January 17, 2013. Philip Dolci, 33-C-0247, March 30, 2007 through October 85 “FWC requests restitution after hunt for pet grizzly 5, 2011. bear,” WINK News, February 21, 2013. 58 Hannah Jones, “Cat lovers concerned tigers coming to 86 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Minnesota are too fat,” City Pages, April 23, 2018. Grizzly Experience, 58-C-1039, June 16, 2010. 59 Jay Pratte, B.S., M.A., “Big-Cat Report: Ringling Bros. 87 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Circus (Red Unit),” visit on June 4, 2016. Grizzly Experience, 58-C-1039, September 15, 2011. 60 Jonathan Kendall, “Santa's Enchanted Forest Ends 88 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Tiger Shows,” New Times, November 3, 2016. Grizzly Experience, 58-C-1039, September 15, 2011. 61 U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspection Reports, Ada 89 Don Lehman, "Saratoga County Fair, and a bear- and Bruno Blaszak, 58-C-0427, January 4, 2011 through inflicted injury," The Post-Star, July 24, 2017. September 14, 2015. 90 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, 62 Timothy San Pedro, “Big cats, heat rule on opening day Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm, 48-C-0023, October 1, 2008 of Riverfest,” LaCrosse Tribune, July 3, 2003. through March 23, 2017. 63 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Complaint, Buffalo 91 “Zebra from Chandler Ostrich Festival killed in collision Beal’s Animal Park, AWA Docket No. 15-0016, October with SUV,” azfamily.com, March 7, 2018. 23, 2014. 92 Sebastian Robertson, “Giraffe behavior concerns State 64 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Consent Decision and Fair of Texas goers,” WFAA, October 02, 2017. Order, Buffalo Beal’s Animal Park, AWA Docket No. 15- 93 Jill Meier, “3-year-old boy battles E. coli; Brandon child 0016, January 6, 2016. in Minneapolis hospital, faces risk of kidney failure,” 65 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Argus Leader, September 5, 2008. Buffalo Beal’s Animal Park, #55-C-0138, July 13, 2017. 94 “Traffic Wrecks Kill 4 Wandering Camels,” 66 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, TheKansasCityChannel.com, October 2, 2006. Casady’s Critters, 35-C-0235, April 23, 2012. 95 Dorothy Fragaszy, Neuroscience and Behavior 67 “Cascade petting zoo owner found guilty of mistreating Program, University of Georgia, “Capuchin Monkeys” in dogs,” Sheboygan Press, October 29, 2009. Enrichment for Nonhuman Primates, Department of 68 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, Health and Human Services, 2005. Georgina Donoho, 58-C-0788, February 26, 2010 through 96 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, March 2, 2015. Judit and Juergen Nerger, 33-C-0452, July 19, 2017. 69 Lisa Gentes, "Workers hurt by elephant," Daily News, 97 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, March 6, 2006. Judit and Juergen Nerger, 33-C-0452, July 25, 2019. 70 Lisa Gentes, "Questions arise about zoo show," Daily 98 Alanna Quillen, “Incident at tiger show causes News, March 7, 2006. firestorm on social media; trainers deny tigers escaped,” 71 Marlborough Police Department report, Incident No. WPTV, February 16, 2017. 2006000003632, March 9, 2006. 99 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, 72 Andrena Irvin, "Elephant panics; two hurt," Herald- Squalus, Inc., 58-C-0648, May 22, 2007 through June Journal, August 28, 1998. 29, 2017. 73 J.M. Lawrence, “Controversy follows elephant to 100 “California Sea Lions Sick with Leptospirosis,” Oregon Topsfield fair,” Boston Herald, October 3, 1998. State University, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon 74 “Elephant gives ride after attack, Burlington Free Press, Marine Mammal Stranding Network, October 17, 2017. August 30, 1989. https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/news/california-sea-lions- sick-leptospirosis 75 Mike Donoghue, “Elephant attack raises concerns,” 101 “Leptospirosis – Kidney Damage in California Sea Burlington Free Press, August 31, 1989. 76 Lions,” The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, California. Kathleen E. Carey, “After protest, Springfield GOP http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/science/top- 'retires' elephant from parade,” delcomtimes.com, July research-projects/leptospirosis.html 17, 2019. 102 Hayley Mason, “Some say tiger exhibit at Williamson 77 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, County Fair is inhumane,” WSMV, August 10, 2015. Emerson Farms, 64-C-0230, March 3, 2015 through 103 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Decision and Order, August 28, 2017. Douglas Keith Terranova and Terranova Enterprises, AWA 78 Cody Shepard, “Bridgewater teen bitten by monkey at Brockton Fair,” The Enterprise, July 6, 2017. 110 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, Kevin Keith, 93-C-0601, October 6, 2016 through July Docket Nos. 15-0058, 15-0059, 16-0037, 16-0038, 31, 2017. September 28, 2016. 111 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, 104 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Decision and Order, Grant Kemmerer’s Wild World of Animals, 23-C-0203, Douglas Keith Terranova and Terranova Enterprises, AWA March 28, 2011 through May 11, 2016. 112 Docket Nos. 15-0058, 15-0059, 16-0037, 16-0038, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, August 30, 2019. Gregg and Karen Woody, 33-C-0218, January 31, 2013. 113 105 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Reports, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Complaint, Woody’s Steven Higgs, #92-C-0159, July 6, 2011 through July 2, Menagerie, AWA Docket Nos. 15-0147, 15-0148, and 15- 2019. 0149, July 17, 2015. 114 106 “Canby wild animal refuge ending public tours due to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Consent Decision and zoning violation,” KPTV, March 24, 2015. Order, Woody’s Menagerie, AWA Docket Nos. 15-0147, 107 Tim Becker, “Exotic animal facility shut down in 15-0148, and 15-0149, October 20, 2016. 115 Canby,” KOIN-TV, March 9, 2015. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Inspection Report, 108 Katie Shepherd, “A Defiant Couple Is Caging Big Cats Gregg and Karen Woody, 33-C-0218, February 8, 2017 in the Portland Suburbs. Should Anybody Stop Them?,” through August 17, 2017. Willamette Week, July 26, 2017. 109 Peter Wong, “Exotic animal park is fined for code violations,” Beaverton Valley Times, June 5, 2018.