Empire State Fair to Face Flak for Cruel Animal Acts

PETA, LION Protestors Will Urge Fair to Nix Exploitative Outfits, Including Sea Lion Splash, Rosaire’s Racing Pigs

For Immediate Release:
May 10, 2018

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

On Friday, PETA and Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) supporters will descend on the Nassau Coliseum in a spirited protest urging the Empire State Fair to cancel its cruel animal acts provided by notorious exhibitors Sea Lion Splash, Rosaire’s Royal Racers, and, likely, the R.W. Commerford & Sons Traveling Petting Zoo. PETA contacted the State Fair Group, which puts on the Empire State Fair, concerning the exhibitors’ history of federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, but the fair organizers have decided that the cruel shows will go on.

When:    Friday, May 11, 6 p.m.

Where:    Nassau Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke. (at the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Glenn Curtiss Boulevard), Uniondale

“By going forward with these shady exhibitors, Empire State Fair organizers are supporting animal suffering and putting the public in danger,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Fairs across the country are taking cruelty off the itinerary by nixing animal acts, and PETA is calling on the Empire State Fair to get with the times and follow suit.”

Sea Lion Splash’s AWA violations range from failing to supply adequate veterinary care to sea lions suffering from painful eye conditions to endangering the public by exhibiting animals without having sufficient barriers in place. Additionally, pigs used in fair races endure mishandling, noise from fairground crowds, and blaring music. Often, they’re sold for slaughter at the end of each fair season. Commerford’s numerous animal-welfare violations include failing to provide animals with veterinary care and failing to have an attendant present during periods of public contact.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—notes that several local fairs have ended animal acts in recent years, including the Levittown Chamber of Commerce festival and the East Northport Fireman’s Fair. Ringling Bros. circus shuttered in 2017, citing declining ticket sales and shifting public opinion.

PETA’s correspondence with State Fair Group is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.