In Defense
of Animals (IDA)
August 4, 2013
IDA is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take immediate enforcement action against a chronic violator of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Nosey needs your help.
Sign an online petition (copy/paste URL into your
browser):
https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2499&autologin=true#.UfrbWyKUywA.facebook
1) Use the information below to urge the agency to take
immediate action to safeguard Nosey and the public. Please personalize the
letter, as it will have more impact.
2) Share this information with your friends, family, and colleagues using
the Facebook and Twitter buttons at the top.
Personalize and submit the form below to send an email to:
Kevin Shea, APHIS Administrator
(202) 799-7017
Chester Gipson, Assistant Administrator – Animal Care
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
phone (301) 734-7833
fax (301) 734-4978
emailmailto:[email protected]
IDA is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to
take immediate enforcement action against a chronic violator of the Animal
Welfare Act (AWA). Nosey needs your help.
We’ve told you about the elephant Nosey and the exhibitor Hugo Liebel for
years. Facing 33 violations of the AWA, Liebel settled with the USDA this
spring and agreed to pay a meager $7,500 fine and to refrain from violating
the AWA. Liebel got away with a slap on the wrist, and he has resumed
dragging Nosey around to festivals this summer, using her to give rides to
the public. Despite the order to cease and desist from violating the AWA,
IDA has documented a string of incidents in which Liebel continues to
flagrantly violate federal law by repeatedly putting Nosey and the public at
risk—the same violations that led to some of those 33 charges.
Clearly, the pitiful fine has had no impact on Liebel—he’s operating with
the same irresponsible and dangerous disregard of the law. He even told an
eyewitness that he has no intention of changing his behavior! Nosey is
jammed into a tiny, foul trailer with other animals and equipment in unsafe
conditions. Nosey was locked inside the trailer for hours in 90 degree
weather. Nosey is constantly chained or penned except when giving rides or
performing tricks. Handlers monitoring the elephant rides are often
distracted while talking on cell phones, or far too young to have the
necessary experience to safely handle an elephant. Liebel’s two sons—ages 15
and 6 years old—both help with rides, or are solely responsible for portions
of the rides.
IDA is concerned that if this reckless handling continues, Nosey, or an
innocent member of the public, could be seriously injured—or worse. Nosey
injured a handler several years ago, and is constantly put into a position
where she could cause further injury to another person, or be injured
herself.
IDA has filed three new complaints with the USDA in as many weeks based on
reports from eyewitnesses. These complaints provided new observations,
photographs, and video showing that the negligent and abusive treatment of
Nosey continues unabated. And still the USDA refuses to take any meaningful
action to help Nosey or ensure that the public is safe.
It's time for the USDA to put an end to its bureaucratic foot dragging and
file contempt charges against Liebel for violating the order by continuing
to violate the AWA. The USDA must also terminate Liebel’s license and
confiscate Nosey. Thanks to you, our previous alerts have resulted in
avalanches of emails on Nosey’s behalf. Please take a few minutes to help
again.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
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