PETA, Zoocheck Canada, and Voice for Animals Seek Ailing Elephant's Day in Court
For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2011
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Edmonton, Alberta — On behalf of PETA, Zoocheck, and Voice for Animals, renowned attorney Clayton Ruby will appear in Edmonton's Court of Appeal on Tuesday to argue for the reinstatement of the groups' lawsuit aimed at proving that the city is keeping Lucy, the lone elephant at the Valley Zoo, in conditions that violate Alberta's laws prohibiting anyone from keeping animals in distress. The groups maintain that Judge John D. Rooke—who initially dismissed their case—was in error in refusing to recognize that they had standing and in failing to address the details of the case.
"There is a mountain of evidence showing that Edmonton's Valley Zoo is illegally keeping Lucy in distress," says PETA attorney Jeffrey Kerr. "We urge the Court of Appeal to allow us the opportunity to prove that Lucy will benefit from being moved to a sanctuary in a warm climate where she can walk freely in the company of other elephants."
Lucy suffers from arthritis, obesity, chronic foot ailments, and upper respiratory problems—all of which are further aggravated by Edmonton's frigid climate, which is ill-suited to an Asian elephant. Lucy has also been alone for more than three years, spends most of her time in a small, barren barn, and exhibits behaviour that indicates severe psychological distress.
The Valley Zoo has failed to properly diagnose and treat Lucy and continues to deny any independent experts access to examine her. Just last week, TV icon Bob Barker offered $100,000 to the city of Edmonton to use as it chooses if the city will allow independent elephant experts to examine Lucy—but the city remains implacable.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
