Don’t Be Fooled by Tourist Traps—Help Animals Get to Accredited Sanctuaries
Everyone loves a good vacation or road trip, but sadly, some destinations are twisted tourist traps that dupe unwitting visitors with deceptive words like “sanctuary,” “foundation,” or “rescue.” Let’s be real: These places are exclusively in the business of exploiting animals for profit, while forcing them to languish in misery.
Below are a few of the worst abusers across the U.S. To help the animals trapped in these roadside hellholes, take the action under each button and urge these establishments to send the animals they imprison to reputable sanctuaries!
Oswald’s Bear Ranch
This Michigan attraction allows the public to handle bear cubs for photo ops. Breeders that supply cubs to Oswald’s tear them away from their mothers and ship them hundreds of miles, all to fill their pockets. Cubs have been observed pacing and crying out—signs of severe distress. At least six bears at the ranch have been slaughtered, one of them for being too “mean.” As if that weren’t horrific enough, 17 bear cubs 2 years old or under have died at Oswald’s unexpectedly. This must not go on! Urge Oswald’s to send all the animals there to reputable sanctuaries.
Single Vision
This roadside zoo in Melrose, Florida, has proven to be one of the worst in the country. The facility was cited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for allowing inappropriate contact between dangerous wild animals and members of the public, noting 31 examples of dangerous contact with bears and big cats. The facility has also been cited for failing to provide adequate veterinary care—including two thin geriatric tigers, a limping cougar, a Geoffroy’s cat with hair and eye problems, and an obese jaguar. On top of all these violations, the owner was cited for lying to inspectors. This place must be shut down! Use the links below to tell Single Vision owner Carl Bovard to stop exploiting these animals.
Endangered Ark Foundation
No legitimate “retirement” facility for elephants forced to perform for circuses makes them stand on pedestals, “paint” with their trunks, or perform under threat of bullhooks, but that’s exactly what this place does. The facility is owned and operated by Carson and Barnes Circus and serves as a venue to continue exploiting elderly elephants, many of whom spent decades on the road. Video evidence shows handlers at the Endangered Ark Foundation forcefully using bullhooks and forcing the elderly elephant Traci into lying in her own feces during a public encounter. Elephants deserve a life with choices and the freedom to explore. Urge Carson and Barnes Circus to shut down the Endangered Ark Foundation and retire the elephants to a true sanctuary.
The Preserve
The Preserve is a rebranding of the vile Have Trunk Will Travel, an entertainment company in Texas that terrorizes elephants with bullhooks so they will do tricks for patrons. This abusive exhibitor has endorsed the use of electrical shock devices called “hot shots,” and trainers there have been caught on video ruthlessly beating elephants, including a baby. Tell the perverse Preserve to send all the animals it imprisons to reputable sanctuaries.
Canton Grand Safari
Despite having its license suspended by the USDA and numerous citations for endangering public and animal safety, this shady roadside zoo in Texas continues to subject animals to dangerous public encounters. A hyena fatally attacked two ostriches, and in another incident a hyena bit a member of the public, sending them to the hospital. Federal inspectors found lemurs confined to a rat-infested enclosure and numerous animals in hazardous conditions. Canton Grand Safari has shown a complete disrespect of the law, animal welfare, and public safety. Help us urge the owners to shut down and send animals to reputable facilities!
