Following PETA Complaint, Roadside Zoo Put on Notice That Further Violations of Animal Welfare Laws Could Bring Criminal Charges
For Immediate Release:
May 21, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Mechanicsville, Va. -- Newly released records from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that following an August 2010 PETA complaint over the escape of all six chimpanzees confined to Windy Oaks, an unaccredited roadside zoo in Mechanicsville, the agency has issued the facility an official warning for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The notice, which was sent to Windy Oaks owner Curtis Shepperson, states that further violations of the AWA's animal-care and public-safety regulations could result in criminal charges or a civil penalty. The USDA cited Windy Oaks for violating the AWA requirement that "[a]ll licensees who maintain wild or exotic animals must demonstrate adequate experience and knowledge of the species they maintain" and noted that such a violation "can have serious and costly impact detrimental to the public interest." One of the chimpanzees remained on the loose overnight.
"Windy Oaks' potentially disastrous experiences with chimpanzees make a strong case against anyone owning these highly intelligent and complex animals," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders, who notes that an adult chimpanzee has the strength of up to seven human adults.
Public sentiment against the private ownership of chimpanzees is growing. Bills recently introduced in the Virginia General Assembly would prohibit private parties from owning chimpanzees and other dangerous wild animals.
This wasn't the first time that chimpanzees have escaped from Windy Oaks. According to a Hanover County Animal Control incident report, the zoo's veterinarian said that this escape was the third such incident, that "it is a huge public safety issue to have these chimpanzees," and that she felt "it was too much" for the Windy Oaks staff to handle.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
