Big-Cat Abuser Is Loser in License Appeal

Judicial Officer Confirms Lance Ramos Can No Longer Exhibit or Hurt Tigers, Lions, Elephants, or Any Other Animals

For Immediate Release:
September 8, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Even though the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) permanently revoked notorious big-cat exhibitor Lance Ramos’ (aka “Lancelot Kollman”) exhibitor’s license in April 2009 after charging him with multiple Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, Ramos appealed to obtain a new license. Although his appeal was denied, Ramos appealed yet again, and a judicial officer has just affirmed that the denial of a new license was appropriate and added that Ramos isn’t allowed to exhibit under anyone else’s license—something the USDA was erroneously considering until PETA weighed in.

“Ramos hauled lions and tigers around in cramped cages all across the country, and at least one lion died as a result of physical abuse,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “Permanently denying this serial abuser a license to exhibit animals means that no more animals will suffer and die at his hands, something that’s been long overdue.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—repeatedly called on the USDA to enforce the law after Ramos attempted to circumvent his license revocation by partnering with another chronic AWA violator, the Hawthorn Corporation, and was caught illegally exhibiting at a Shrine circus in Texas in 2012.

Ramos has also been charged with numerous additional AWA violations, including for failure to give adequate veterinary care to a 22-year-old severely emaciated elephant named Ned, whom the USDA confiscated and sent to a sanctuary. Ned was in such poor condition that he died six months later.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.