Group Asks for Criminal Charges Against John Cuneo, Lance Ramos After Whistleblower Reports Abuse and Illegal Display of Big Cats
For Immediate Release:
March 27, 2013
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Grayslake, Ill. -- Based on a whistleblower's sworn affidavit documenting multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by Grayslake-based animal exhibitor Hawthorn Corporation and unlicensed exhibitor Lance Ramos, PETA has submitted a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking for the revocation of Hawthorn's license and criminal charges against its owner, John Cuneo, and Ramos. The whistleblower came forward with compelling evidence of alleged physical abuse of tigers, Hawthorn's blatant disregard of federal law, and its illegal contracting with Ramos. Hawthorn's sordid decades-long history of AWA violations has already resulted in more than $250,000 in fines.
"Hawthorn's reign of terror over tigers, elephants, and other animals has continued for more than 30 years," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "And although it has exceeded the grounds for license revocation on several fronts, it still holds a USDA exhibitor's license—which Cuneo apparently believes is a license to neglect, deprive, and physically abuse animals."
The following is just a small sample of the whistleblower's reported observations regarding Hawthorn's and Ramos' apparent violations of federal animal-protection laws:
- Ramos' abuse of tigers, including whipping them in the face
- Failing to provide tigers, who were suffering from bloody gashes on their foreheads, with veterinary care
- Routinely failing to refrigerate and properly store meat intended for tiger consumption and allowing it to become covered with flies
- Forcing tigers to live in unsanitary urine-saturated enclosures
- Leaving tigers outside in metal transport cages for several hours without protection from wind and near-freezing temperatures
For more information, please visit PETA's blog.