citation_inspection

The inspectors observed that the tiger JJ was drooling as she approached to drink water from the receptacle in her enclosure. JJ also appeared to be thin with prominent hips and backbone. The president stated that he knew she was thin and was considering having her put down. The last time the attending veterinarian saw this tiger was about six weeks ago according to the president. The attending veterinarian needs to be consulted regarding this tiger. The veterinarian must see her by the end of the day on 7-2-14. Records regarding veterinary recomendations and possible treatment must be made or the attending veterinarian can contact the inspector by phone to discuss JJ. These records must be made available for review by APHIS inspectors.

The two domestic cats are housed in an enclosure that contains one litter box. This litter box had excessive feces in it. Primary enclosures are to be cleaned of fecal material daily. Excessive feces in the litter box can lead to odor problems. It can also be a potential source of disease and pest control issues. Excessively dirty litter boxes can also be a source of discomfort to the cats as they will hesitate to use the boxes when they are overly soiled. The cats in this enclosure had started to defecate outside the box which could result in soiling of the cats and ingestion of feces as they groom themselves. This can lead to parasite and other potential infections. Clean litter boxes daily.

The enclosure housing the olive baboon contained an excessive amount of fecal material. Excessive fecal material can lead to disease, pest and odor control issues. The baboon can become contaminated by lying in the fecal material and subsequently ingest it while grooming. This could lead to potential bacterial or parasitic infections for the animal. Clean this enclosure on a more frequent basis. This enclosure needs to be cleaned. Correct by: Close of business 7-3-14

A waste container without a lid is located right next to the area used to butcher cows to be fed to the large cats. This container contained black decaying cow parts covered in maggots. The odor emanating from this container was overwhelming. Food waste needs to be removed promptly in order to minimize odors, vermin infestation and disease hazards. The large amount of maggots in and around this container will result in fly control issues in a short amount of time. Remove this and all other waste materials in a prompt manner. Correct by: Close of business 7-3-14

The shelter housing the three goats is not large enough for all of the goats in the enclosure. Not all of the goats in this enclosure will be able to seek shelter from inclement weather. This could result in possible animal discomfort and suffering. Adequate shelter must be provided to these animals to provide for their health and comfort. Provide enough shelter for all the goats in this enclosure.

The round bale of hay placed in the lama enclosure was moldy. It had a white discoloration and appeared to shed a white dust when handled. Food shall be free from contamination. This hay is of questionable nutritional content and is likely not palatable when spoiled to this degree. This hay needs to be replaced with unspoiled hay in order to provide the lama with a palatable nutritious diet.

The water receptacle for the enclosure containing Sher Kahn had a layer of green scum lining its interior surface. The water receptacle for the tigers Lenny and Squiggy also had a layer of green scum on its interior. The water receptacle for the lion had algae floating in it. The water receptacle for the sheep had a layer of green scum on its interior surface. The water receptacle for the lama had a layer of green scum on its interior surface. The water receptacle for the tiger known as JJ had a layer of brownish green scum on its interior surface. The water receptacles in the enclosures for the American black bears and the Asian black bears had algae floating in them. The water receptacle for the coyote had greenish algae scum lining its interior. These receptacles are not being kept clean and sanitary. Dirty water receptacles can affect water palatability. It can also lead to contamination of the water by pathogenic organisms. Water palatability is very important with large cats as poor water palatability can lead to decreased consumption. Decreased water consumption can lead to renal function problems. The majority of the large cats at this facility are advanced in age, making them especially susceptible to kidney problems. Clean these water receptacles. Clean them as often as need to keep the water clean.

The produce cooler contained boxes of mushrooms which were deteriorating and fluid is present in the packages. Shelves in this produce cooler were covered with a white material that appeared to be mold. It is not possible to store food items in this produce cooler without them becoming contaminated by the dirty shelving and produce in the cooler. Clean the produce cooler shelves and remove the spoiled produce. The counter in the butcher area was dirty and covered with a paint can and brush, a dirty knife and various other dirty equipment. Knifes that had been used and not cleaned were stored in a receptacle on the wall. The meat saw was contaminated with fat and hair and meat scraps. The produce cooler door was covered in blood and tissue. This area is used to butcher meat that is intended to be fed to the cats at this facility. This area must be kept clean and sanitary in order to ensure the food is clean, wholesome and not contaminated when fed to the animals. Clean and sanitize this area. The area directly outside the building housing the butcher area as well as the alleyway and building next to the butcher area are filled with various debris, old equipment, boards, trash, buckets, fencing and cardboard. These areas provide ample hiding areas for rodents and other pests. All this material must be removed to help control pests.

It is evident that due to the nature and severity of the animal husbandry issues at the facility that there is a lack of adequately trained employees. The facility relies on volunteer workers. The president of the facility stated to APHIS inspectors that there was no formalized scheduling of workers at the facility. A lack of properly trained employees can result in facility and animal conditions that result in unnecessary animal suffering. Animal numbers must be reduced or more properly trained workers need to be added. Workers need to be trained in the basic needs of the animals at the facility. Topics should include at a minimum: the importance of adequate water, the need for adequate bedding during times of extreme weather, the importance of cleaning and good housekeeping procedures, proper diet for different species of animals and observation of animals for abnormal conditions and behaviors. This training should be done in conjunction with the attending veterinarian or his designee. A list of topics covered and attendees must be documented for review by APHIS. A facility schedule needs to be developed that allows for adequate employee coverage in order to address all animal husbandry needs. Also the facility president is the only one authorized to work with the dangerous animals at the facility. All animal work must be done with the dangerous animals under his direct supervision. The president has been offsite for the many of the days since the last inspection. As the dangerous animals cannot be serviced when he is not present the conditions in theses animal enclosures are not good. The enclosures are not clean. The majority of the water receptacles are not clean. Trained staff with adequate experience must be hired or the facility president must find a way to be onsite at the facility for a more substantial amount of the time. The inspection was conducted with the facility president on 7-1-14. The exit interview was conducted at this time. All non-compliant items were discussed with the facility president. APHIS expectations regarding JJ the tiger were made clear. The tiger was to be seen by the attending veterinarian by the end of the day on 7-2-14. It was explained to the facility president that records of the veterinary visit would be reviewed at the 12:00 PM formal exit interview on 7-3-14. In place of these records the attending veterinarian could contact the inspector prior to this time by phone. Formal exit interview conducted with the facility president on 7-3-14. Additional Inspectors Bongard Carrie, Animal Care Inspector