St. Louis County Officials and USDA Asked to Check on Condition of Tiger Whose Foot Was Trapped in Metal Bars
For Immediate Release:
July 20, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
St. Louis County, Mo. — PETA has sent a complaint and video footage to St. Louis County Animal Control asking them to immediately check on the health of a tiger travelling with the UniverSoul Circus, which is performing at the Jamestown Mall through Sunday. In the video, which was taken on July 5, the tiger is shown struggling to free his foot, which was trapped beneath a cage door. PETA is calling on animal control to see if the tiger is now injured and, if necessary, to ensure that proper veterinary care is provided.
"The wanton neglect seen in this video leads us to believe that this tiger may still be suffering from wounds," says PETA Director Delcianna Winders. "We want St. Louis County Animal Control to make sure that UniverSoul is not forcing an injured animal to perform stupid, grueling tricks if he or she is hurt."
PETA has also asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct an investigation into this incident and to determine whether the tiger sustained any injuries, whether the injuries were treated appropriately, why the exhibitors did not notice that the tiger's foot had been caught, and whether the tiger's cage fulfills enclosure requirements as established by the Animal Welfare Act.
This is not the first time that UniverSoul Circus has demonstrated irresponsible care of animals: The USDA has previously cited UniverSoul exhibitors for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including failure to provide veterinary care, medical records, and adequate space and failure to properly maintain transport vehicles.
PETA's letter to St. Louis County Animal Control is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.