Colo. mall receives PETA award for canceling baby animal appearance

Decision Follows PETA's Request to Nix Appearance by Abusive Exhibitor

For Immediate Release:
April 23, 2007

Contact:
Lisa Wathne 757-622-7382

Glenwood Springs, Colo. — For the compassionate decision to cancel an appearance by G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park's (GW) exotic-animal display, Glenwood Springs Mall manager Sonia Davis will receive PETA's "Compassionate Business" Award. PETA sent Davis an urgent letter last Wednesday after learning that GW was scheduled to set up an exhibit at the mall from April 25 to 29. In its letter, PETA pointed out that GW has a record of animal abuse and chronic failure to comply with the federal Animal Welfare Act and warned Davis about the dangers posed to the public by exotic-animal displays. PETA also asked the mall to establish a permanent policy banning exotic-animal displays. Colorado Division of Wildlife district officer Sonja Marzek notified PETA of the mall's decision.

PETA also told Davis about its 2006 undercover investigation of GW, which revealed that a lion was not provided with pain relief following the amputation of the stump of her leg after it was torn off by tigers, that a wounded horse suffered for days with an untreated broken leg before dying and being fed to big cats, and that tigers were hit with a rifle butt. GW has been cited repeatedly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violating the minimum standards of care set forth in the federal Animal Welfare Act. In January 2006, GW was put on probation for 18 months and paid a $25,000 fine to settle USDA charges.

"We commend Ms. Davis for letting the likes of GW know that Glenwood Springs Mall is strictly off limits," says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. "This compassionate stand will serve as an example to other businesses that abusive and dangerous animal displays will not be tolerated."

PETA's correspondence with the mall and broadcast-quality video footage of PETA's investigation are available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=9741