Notorious Circus Racks Up Animal Welfare Violations During L.A. Stint

After PETA Complaint, Feds Cite Ramos Bros. for Unsafe Housing, Lack of Veterinary Care

For Immediate Release:
May 22, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Following an official complaint by PETA based on a citizen’s report that at least one camel at Ramos Bros. Circus—which is performing in Los Angeles through next week—was suffering from an apparent medical condition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited the circus for failing to have an up-to-date veterinary program, to trim camels’ and llamas’ overgrown hooves—an often painful condition—and to house animals safely, among other violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

“The authorities have confirmed what members of the public keep reporting to PETA: that animals are suffering at Ramos Bros. Circus,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA is urging everyone who cares about animals to refuse to buy a ticket to any circus that exploits them for profit.”

According to the April 17 USDA report, which just became publicly available, Ramos Bros. has not updated its veterinary-care program since 2010—even though it was previously cited for this and ordered to correct it. The USDA further noted that, among other issues, the circus was traveling without alerting the agency—making it difficult for it to inspect the circus—and that animals were housed in enclosures with rusty, broken fences.

Past official action against Ramos Bros. includes an official warning in January 2013 after a camel was allowed to escape in Glendale and head toward traffic, endangering herself and the public. PETA has received numerous recent reports from the public regarding animals suffering at Ramos Bros. during its stint in Los Angeles, including camels with apparent cattle-prod burn marks and infections on their legs, a camel who had a seizure during a performance, and dogs kept in a trailer without air conditioning.

For more information, please visit PETA’s blog.