Macerich, which manages more than 55 mall properties across the U.S., is getting a PETA Compassionate Business Award for taking the lead in animal welfare. Not only did the company prohibit animal displays at its malls, it also banned the sale of sugar gliders—tiny, fragile nocturnal tree dwellers who are peddled as cheap trinkets to customers who purchase them on a whim. And after a short-term promotion in a handful of its malls, Macerich also stated that it would not partner with SeaWorld in the future.
© iStock.com/David Callan
The company takes its animal-welfare policies seriously. When a circus performed at one of its malls in Des Moines, Iowa, in July, no animal acts were allowed.
What You Can Do
If you’re shopping at your local mall and see that animals are being sold or displayed, go to the management office and politely voice your objections.
