July 2003 A man who bought a sick puppy from Animals & Things in New Jersey contacted PETA to report unsanitary conditions at the store. The puppy had lived in a feces-filled cage and spent more than a week at the vet with pneumonia. The health inspector who oversees pet stores promptly investigated after our call … Read more »
July 2003 PETA secured a more humane environment for eight exotic birds in Texas who were confined to a semi-outdoor kennel and suffering from severe feather-plucking and lethargy. After days of calls to local authorities, the sheriff and an avian expert visited the property. As a result, the birds now enjoy ventilation fans, elevated water and … Read more »
July 2003 The Addison, Illinois, park district planned to hold a “Go Fish for Goldfish” Day in which 5,000 goldfish would be dumped into the city’s pool, and children would be allowed to try to capture the fish and take them home. We immediately contacted the Health Department to determine whether this cruel event would violate … Read more »
July 2003 PETA learned that a Minnesota couple was selling big cats and bears through a publication that peddles animals to private owners, breeders, dealers, and trophy hunters. When we determined that the couple was not properly licensed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell regulated animals, we sent a formal complaint to the … Read more »
July 2003 When a farmer was found to be involved in the neglect and starvation of 100 sheep, lambs, and cows, the sheriff in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, was reluctant to recommend charges. PETA sent a letter to the district attorney urging him to prosecute the man on cruelty-to-animals charges. As a result, the farmer was … Read more »
July 2003 PETA persuaded a prosecutor to upgrade charges against a Niles, Illinois, man who was charged with one misdemeanor count of cruelty for the fatal beating of his family’s puppy. Thanks to our many phone calls, a letter to the prosecutor, a news release, and an action alert to members, this abuser now faces a … Read more »
July 2003 In response to a letter and information packet from PETA about the barbaric practices of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the San Diego, California, Gulls hockey team removed all Ringling circus tickets from its prize packages.
July 2003 PETA learned that a donkey baseball game was scheduled for a bicentennial celebration being held in the town of Thompson, New York. Members of the Monticello Police Department and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office were to compete in the game. We immediately contacted the sheriff and the chief of police, as well as other … Read more »
July 2003 PETA learned that Warner Springs Ranch resort in California planned to hold a donkey basketball game as part of its “family night.” We, along with other activist groups, immediately contacted the general manager of the resort to explain the cruelty inherent in this antiquated “sport.” We also pointed out that numerous people have been … Read more »
July 2003 A concerned person living near Belmar, New Jersey, sent advertisements for weekly turtle races at Patrick’s Pub to PETA. We immediately forwarded the information to the county Health Department to ask that it investigate and provide information detailing the risk of salmonella infection associated with turtles, especially in food-service establishments. The Health Department required … Read more »
July 2003 A Virginia Beach, Virginia, whistleblower called PETA to report that Stumpy Lake Golf Course was planning to round up and slaughter 300 Canada geese living on the lake. In response, we immediately fired off a letter to the mayor and city manager asking them to halt plans to kill the geese at Stumpy Lake … Read more »
July 2003 When activists learned that PETA had convinced Miller Brewing Company to stop sponsoring festivals in Guam at which cockfighting is featured, we began receiving calls about Anheuser-Busch’s sponsorship of cockfights in Saipan. We immediately contacted the CEO of Anheuser-Busch to explain the horrors of cockfighting and to ask that the company disassociate itself from … Read more »
July 2003 After several months of pressure from PETA, Illinois prosecutors filed felony charges against an Illinois man who had attacked his neighbor’s dog with a home-made spear. The case had been dropped after the abuser’s mother–claiming to be the dog’s guardian–called prosecutors to say she would not be pressing charges. Read about the link between … Read more »
July 2003 Two Pennsylvania men pleaded guilty to breaking into a home and cutting 10 cats with knives, injuring eight and killing and disemboweling two. PETA pressured the prosecutor’s office to seek the strictest penalty, issued a news release, and gave several interviews. The judge, citing the horrible cruelty involved, gave each of the men 26 … Read more »
July 2003 Members of the public pool in Totowa, New Jersey, contacted us when they received advertisements for a Labor Day event at which hundreds, if not thousands, of goldfish were to be dumped into the town pool. The Totowa Bureau of Recreation planned to allow the children to jump in and attempt to capture the … Read more »
