citation_inspection

A floor seam in building 19 at the Yemassee site is missing the sealant between the concrete floor pieces leaving a gap where water and wastes can flow. This seam needs to be resealed so that the floor can be readily cleaned and sanitized. To be corrected after end of current study when building is emptied. This is a focused inspection with emphasis on Yemassee site and previous non-compliant items at Hampton site rechecked. Exit briefing conducted with facility representatives. Additional Inspectors Magid Ellen, Supervisory Animal Care Specialist Stokes William, Assistant Director

*** The main primate building has green algae growing on the ceiling above the enclosures. This is due to cleaning and moisture condensation staying on the ceiling. This algae growth would indicate that there is not enough auxiliary ventilation to reduce the humidity in the building which could become a health concern for the animals. This needs to be addressed for the health of the animals. Correct by: Oct 30, 2014

On inspection, one metal chain-link guillotine door in the enclosure of three adult leopards used to permit access to others sections of the enclosure was determined to be in disrepair and does not protect the animals from potential injury. The hand operated chain used to lower and raise the door broke a few days before. The licensee used an unattached metal stake to wedge the door open. Since part of the metal stake is inside the enclosure, the leopards could move the rod from placement. This is extremely dangerous if the stake becomes loose and dislodges. The weight of the metal door could easily cause injury to a foot or tail or possibly cause death in an animal. There is no counterweight or secondary mechanism to prevent the door from sliding down with full force. Repair or replace the guillotine door to secure the door from sliding down. Additionally, monitor all guillotine doors so the doors can be operated that protects the animals from possible injuries. Corrected at time of inspection The 2 in. by 1 in. wire enclosure fence for two adult tigers had a hole in the fence where three sharp wire ends protrude inside the enclosure. According to the licensee, the hole was used as a place for a feeding tube to enter into the enclosure, but the tube was removed after putting tigers inside this enclosure. Sharp points or jagged edges could cause injury and pain to an animal. Loose wires are also more likely to break off and be eaten. All housing surfaces of the facility must be free of all sharp points or edges, and monitor all wire fences to ensure loose wires are removed and could not injury any animals. Corrected at time of inspection The inspection and exit interview were conducted with the owner.

Some of the wood on the platforms of the chimpanzee and squirrel monkey exhibits were deteriorated and flaking apart. The surfaces of housing facilities must be constructed in a manner and made of materials that allow them to be readily cleaned and sanitized, or removed or replaced when worn or soiled. This may be accomplished by (but not limited to) using plastic wood, new pressure treated lumber, or other impervious surfaces. To be corrected by 10-15-2014.

The chimpanzee exhibit was observed to have black and green algae on the floor, empty concrete pool, and back wall. Large accumulations of dirt and leaves were in the dry moat and dirt/algae was observed in the inside the empty small concrete pool. Cobwebs, dirt, & leaves were also seen hanging from the skylights in the dens. These observances indicates that these areas are either either not properly or regularly cleaned. The algae on the floors can become slippery which can cause injury to the primates. Housing facilities must be cleaned when necessary to satisfy generally accepted husbandry standards and practices in order to protect the health of the primates.

Section 2.126(b) - Access and inspection of records and property: A responsible adult shall be made available to accompany APHIS officials during the inspection process. A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 12:30 p.m. on 09/09/2014. Contact was made with licensee via telephone who stated that they were off site and away from the area. Licensee stated the best times for inspection are early morning and/or early evening.

The northwest outdoor enclosure wall for the older female capybara in the waterfowl exhibit area has gaps where the animal could potentially escape. This wall is constructed of "electrical pole" sections sunken vertically in the ground. However, the "electrical poles" have begun to lean outwards creating spaces between poles where the capybara could become injured or escape. Outdoor housing facilities must be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the animals from injury and to contain the animals. To be corrected by: 9/19/14. The east outdoor enclosure wall for the younger female capybara in the off-exhibit holding area is leaning inwards and the animal could potentially be injured or escape. This wall is constructed of 8 foot high sections of wooden fencing and is 20 feet in width. The keeper access gate adjacent to this wall is made of a welded wire (cattle) panel which is 5 feet tall and 6 feet in width. This gate is bungee-corded to an adjacent animal enclosure and could potentially fail to contain the capybara. Outdoor housing facilities must be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the animals from injury and to contain the animals. To be corrected by: 10/10/14. Inspection and exit briefing conducted with facility representative.

Indoor Cat room: The corners of two, wooden window ledges on the west wall both contained approximately 5 to 6 inch areas of dirty and rotting wood. A side,wood panel of one of the windows also had an approximately 2 inch x 2 inch area of broken and chipped wood with peeling paint. Interior and any surfaces that come in contact with cats must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. Surfaces of housing facilities that cannot be readily cleaned and sanitized must be replaced when worn or soiled. Correct by 9-28-14

Most of the water receptacles in the outdoor, dog kennel runs were dirty. Some had a greenish discoloration to the surface of the container, while one receptacle contained completely opaque water with a large growth of algae. Water receptacles must be kept clean and contain potable water to ensure the health and well-being of the dogs. A system of a more frequent cleaning and sanitizing schedule must be in place. Corrected during inspection.

An outdoor, sheltered housing area containing one llama had an excessive buildup of excreta on the ground of this shelter. Excreta should be removed as often as necessary to prevent contamination of the animals contained and to reduce disease hazards and reduce odors. The cleaning schedule of this enclosure should be more frequent and effective to prevent the buildup of excreta. Correct by 09-13-14 Exit interview conducted with facility representative. Additional Inspectors Garland Kathleen, Supervisory Animal Care Specialist

In all the enclosures containing outside access doors, except for one, the access doors are framed in vinyl plastic and have been excessively chewed by the dogs. This damage allows for dirt and food waste to penetrate the surface of the vinyl which can result in disease hazards to the dogs. The vinyl plastic needs to be replaced or altered in a manner that allows for proper cleaning and sanitization of the enclosures every two weeks. Correct by: 10/15/14 Exit interview conducted with facility representative.

*** At the time of inspection Protocol .031 was reviewed and found to contain potentially painful/distressful procedures; however a search for alternatives to these procedures had not been conducted. The principal investigator must provide to the IACUC a search for alternatives and the methods and sources used to determine that no alternatives were available for the welfare of the animals. Correct by 10/15/14 An exit interview was conducted with facility personnel on 9/10/14. Additional Inspectors Lopinto John, Veterinary Medical Officer Hadjis Tonya, Supervisory Animal Care Specialist

The brown goat noted on the inspection of 8-13-14 still has a long toe on the outside of its right rear foot. A white goat was also observed with long toes on both of its rear feet. These goats need to have these toes trimmed. Long overgrown hoofs can cause conformation issues and joint problems. Trim these goats' hoofs.

The barrier door to the service area for the enclosures housing the tigers Xena, Sher Kahn, Kahn and Sundar was not locked. The president of the facility was offsite when the inspectors first arrived at the facility. Volunteer employees had access to the large cat area. The barrier gate to the enclosure housing the crab eating macaque was not locked. Volunteer workers are considered to be members of the public. Barriers must be in place and locked when volunteers are working in this area unless the facility president is in direct supervision of the volunteers. Volunteers cannot have access to these dangerous animals when the president is not present. Contact with these dangerous animals could be potentially fatal to a volunteer worker. It could lead to lethal consequences for the animals as well, if local health officials would require rabies testing. This test requires removal of the brain. Secure and lock all barrier gates and doors.

The water receptacle in the Japanese macaque enclosure has a layer of algae slime lining its interior. Water receptacles must be cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to keep them free from contamination. Unclean water receptacles can affect water palatability and lead to decreased water consumption. This can have an adverse effect on the health of the animal in this enclosure. Contaminated water can also lead to other potential health issues for this macaque such as bacterial or parasitic infection. Clean this water receptacle as often as needed to keep the water in the receptacle clean and sanitary.

The produce cooler contains spoiled tomatoes that were becoming soft. Molding cucumbers, green beans and broccoli were in the produce cooler. Black rotting lettuce and deteriorating apples were in the produce cooler. The refrigerator in the warm room contained deteriorating apples, lettuce, cauliflower and green peppers. Spoiled produce must be removed promptly to prevent contamination of food intended to be fed to the animals. Sort and remove spoiled produce promptly. This cooler and the refrigerator need to be cleaned and have spoiled and deteriorating items removed in order to prevent contamination of food items that will be fed to the animals. The meat cooler had a dead raccoon stored in it. The cooler had a horrible ammonia like odor mixed with the odor of rotten and decaying meat. This odor makes it very hard to determine if the meat items stored in this cooler are fit for animal consumption. Clean the cooler, identify the source of the odor and eliminate it. Do not store items not intended to be animal feed in the meat cooler.

The water receptacle for the enclosure containing the tigers known as Lenny and Squiggy was empty at 12:15 PM. At the direction of the inspectors these tigers were offered water. When water was introduced to the receptacle, both tigers immediately approached and began drinking. One tiger drank continuously for about 40 seconds and the other tiger drank continuously for about 60 seconds. This is too long for these tigers to drink. They are not being offered water frequently enough. Lack of water consumption can lead to serious renal problems for these tigers. The water receptacle for the grizzly bear contained about one inch of slimy algae filled water. The water receptacle for the white tiger contained green water. The water receptacle in the enclosure containing one coyote contained green water. The water receptacle for the enclosure housing three foxes had a layer of dirt in in it. 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 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 alleyway leading to the butcher area as well as the area directly outside the building housing the butcher area and the alleyway and building next to the butcher area are filled with various debris, old equipment, boards, trash, buckets, tires and fencing. These areas provide ample hiding areas for rodents and other pests and numerous rodent holes were located throughout the facility. 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. This limits the amount of time that is available to service the dangerous animal enclosures as the facility president is often offsite. This leads to poor sanitation in the dangerous animal enclosures. The facility president needs to find a way to be onsite more or hire trained staff to help run the facility. The inspection was conducted with the facility president on 9-9-14. An exit interview was conducted at that time and all non-compliant items were explained to the facility president. A formal exit interview was conducted with the facility president on 9-11-14. Additional Inspectors Bongard Carrie, Animal Care Inspector

In the outside room, the enclosures are framed with metal pipes. These metal pipes are showing excessive rusting throughout all the enclosures. The rust causes pitting and flaking of the metal and cannot be properly cleaned and sanitized. All rusty metal needs to be replaced or altered in a manner that allows for proper cleaning and sanitization of the metal every two weeks. Correct by: 09/24/14

In the east whelping room, the enclosures are raised off the ground and have a mesh style flooring. The flooring in one enclosure, housing three dogs, has a hole in it. The hole is approximately three inches wide and poses an injury hazard to the dogs. All flooring must be constructed in a manner that does not allow for the dogs feet and legs to pass through. The flooring needs to be replaced or altered in a manner that protects the dogs from injury and the licensee must establish a maintenance plan for the enclosure flooring to ensure it remains safe for the dogs and in good repair. Correct by: 09/17/14

In the outside room, the fronts of the enclosures are made of chain link fencing. There is a buildup of hair and dirt on this fencing which poses a disease risk to the dogs. The fronts of the enclosures must be cleaned and sanitized every two weeks or as often as necessary to reduce the accumulation of hair, dirt and other disease risks. Also in the outside room, there is an enclosure, housing a small brown dog, that has a buildup of hard water minerals on the wall of the enclosure and on the automatic waterer. This buildup of hard water does not allow for proper cleaning and sanitization of the wall or the automatic waterer. This buildup of hard water minerals must be removed in order for the automatic waterer and the enclosure wall to be cleaned and sanitized every two weeks. Exit interview conducted with facility representative.

The outside wire runs of the Stacker building that are coated with a material (plastic/fiberglass/rubber, etc.) have numerous missing pieces of the material, leaving bare wire that is not adequate flooring for dogs to walk on. Metal strands of wire used for flooring must be greater than 1/8 of an inch in diameter (9 gauge) or coated. These missing pieces of coating leave the wire flooring less that 9 gauge. This flooring must be repaired or replaced. This will help ensure that the dogs in this building are on flooring that will allow them to move around comfortable and be injury free. Correct by 10-09-2014.

Elephants at the facility are sometimes housed over night without shelter from rain when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Staff at the facility stated that during heavy periods of rain the elephants are either locked in the barn or have access to the barn. Due to the conformation of the elephant enclosure, only one elephant at a time may be offered access to both the barn and the outdoor enclosure. On the day of the inspection, one elephant had been locked out of the barn the previous evening with no access to shelter. The local low temperature overnight had been approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit with a rain total of 0.04 inches. According to staff at the facility, elephants have been routinely locked out without shelter during light periods of rain in the past. They also stated that they intended to build a shelter for the outdoor enclosure with a probable October 2015 completion date. The local climate has abundant rainfall. Exposure to rain (especially at cooler temperatures) may cause discomfort to animals. The facility should ensure that all elephants have access to shelter during inclement weather to afford them protection and to prevent their discomfort. Correct from the date of inspection. Notes: The inspection was focused on elephants and their housing. An exit briefing was conducted with a facility representative.

A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 2:30-3:00 pm on 09/09/2014.

Four Guinea pigs were housed in outdoor primary enclosures. This climate is not conducive to housing guinea pigs outdoors as the late spring/summer temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees F. Guinea pigs must not be housed in outdoor facilities unless the climate is appropriate and only with prior approval from the Regional office. Correct by 09-12-14

Sheep/goat pen: In the front area of the pen, fencing at the bottom of the sheep/goat pen had protruding wires sticking out in an approximate 2 foot area of fence. Also, a metal stake was placed in the ground approximately 8-10 inches from a gate entrance to the pen. The gap or opening between the stake and the gate creates enough space in which a goat or sheep could become trapped and/or injured. Pig pen: Wire fencing material with approximately 2 inch gaps was placed on the ground directly in front of a water source. The presence of protruding wires from fencing and inappropriately placed wiring and metal stakes may lead to animals being trapped or injured. These areas must be identified, kept in good repair and maintained to protect the animals and prevent injury to limbs and keep them from being entrapped between fence materials. Correct by 09-19-14

Section 2.126(b) A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 9:30-10am on 09/09/2014. Inspectors from USDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture knocked on the residence door, waited 30 minutes and called the licensee in attempts to make contact for a an inspection. .

A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 11:30am on 09/09/2014. (The licensee was contacted and reported to be on vacation).

At the time of this inspection there is a hole in the perimeter fence behind the baboon enclosure. The hole is ~ 1'(cid:25) x 6"(cid:29) in size. To ensure that unwanted animals are not allowed access to the zoo, and facility animals are securely contained within the perimeter fence, this area will need to be addressed. *** To Be Corrected By: September 13, 2014

At the time of this inspection it was noted that there is a pest control issue in the baboon and macaque enclosures. There was an accumulation of chewed insulation in the baboon den and holes under the cement slabs of the baboon and macaque enclosures. A safe and effective program for the control of mammalian pests shall be established and maintained. *** To Be Corrected By: September 30, 2014 An exit briefing was conducted with the licensee.

An accumulation of soiled shavings is present on the inside of the clear, plastic cover that protects the dials of an old heating unit. This accumulation must be removed to prevent odors and/or disease hazards within the non-human primate enclosure. ALL OF THE ABOVE ITEMS MUST BE CORRECTED BY: SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 The exit briefing was conducted with the facility representative.

In an enclosure housing a one year old female tiger,"Naula," the dirt floor is completely muddy with standing puddles of water throughout. There is a large hole in front of the door that is full of water. The tiger's food and water are located in the muddy areas. The tiger had no dry area inside the enclosure except the concrete shelter that she sleeps in. Standing water and mud are a potential source of discomfort and contamination, and can have a negative impact on the health and welfare of the enclosed animal. Animals must have areas where they can stay dry and comfortable, and should be able to access food and water without having to stand in muddy areas. The large hole in front of the door needs to be filled in, and an effective drainage system needs to be in place to rapidly drain excess water. To be corrected by September 16, 2014.

The written Program of Veterinary Care (PVC) on file states that the attending veterinarian (AV) will visit the facility at least annually. There are no records available that show the AV has been to the facility in the past year. Without documentation we cannot be certain the program is being followed as written.A system should be in place to ensure the AV visits the facility at least once a year to ensure the health and well-being of the animals. To be corrected by 10-10-2014

The bear enclosure has a covered top and is enclosed by an approximately 10 ft. perimeter fence. A section of the perimeter fence, approximately 7.5 ft., is 6 ft. in height and does not meet our required requirement of 8 ft. In addition, this portion of the perimeter fence is made up of vertical bars, approximately 4 inches apart. The space is wide enough to allow unauthorized animals to enter the animal area. Outdoor bear enclosures must be enclosed by a perimeter fence at least 8 ft in height and consturcted in a manner that prevents the unauthorized entry of animals and people. To be corrected by 10/10/14

*** The skunk is housed during the day in the small bathroom in a small dog crate. This crate does not provide enough space to allow for adequate freedom of movement so the animal can engage is species appropriate behaviors. This animal needs to be moved into a bigger primary enclosure that meets the above requirements. This needs to be addressed for the health of the animal. Correct by: Sept 20, 2014

A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 10:30-11:00 am on 09/09/2014.

There were no records present including sales, purchases, births and deaths. At time of inspection the owner notified APHIS inspectors that he moved to a new address on September 4, 2014. Owner stated the records are at his new address and were not available at time of inspection. Records must be available for APHIS officials to review during inspections to review business activities, document changes in ownership, and to access the heath of the colony. Correct by ensuring records are available for inspection. Additionally, the licensee was advised that changes in the name, address, or business operations must be made in writing to the Eastern Regional Office within 10 days of such change. No regulated activity can be conducted at the new site until it passes inspection. Correct by September 12, 2014

The floor of the facility was littered with old bedding and a large amount of rodent droppings. It is unclear whether these droppings came from escaped animals or if there is a pest problem (wild rodents) present in the facility. Pests pose a risk to covered species by being a source of disease spread. An effective program for the control of mammalian pests shall be established and maintained. Facility cleanliness must be maintained to ensure continued monitoring of the pest control program efficacy. Escaped animals must be captured to prevent disease spread. Correct by September 12, 2014. Exit briefing was conducted with facility owner. Additional Inspectors Campitelli D.V.M Kathryn, Veterinary Medical Officer

There are six metal feeders which have rusted away leaving sharp metal edges at the interior portion that the rabbits eat out of. These feeders need to be replaced so that they are structurally sound and then maintained in good repair to protect the rabbits from injury, to contain them, and to keep predators out. Correct by: 09-13-14. An exit briefing was conducted with the Owner.

The kennel consists of a outdoor housing area and a sheltered building. In the outdoor housing area there is one enclosure which contains five adults. In this enclosure there is only one shelter structure for the contained animals. The shelter does not provide room for all five animals to enter at the same time and make normal movements. Outdoor facilities for dogs must include one or more shelter structures that are accessible to each animal in each outdoor facility, and that are large enough to allow each animal in the shelter structure to sit, stand, and lie in a normal manner, and to turn about freely. An additional shelter structure must be provide for the animals to protect them from the elements, allow them to stay clean and dry and protect their health and welfare. Affects five adults Correct by September 9, 2014 The inspection and exit briefing was conducted with the facility representative. Additional Inspectors Cooper Natalie, Veterinary Medical Officer

Section 2.126(b) A responsible adult was not available to accompany APHIS Officials during the inspection process at 11-11:30am on 09/09/2014.

This was a search inspection. The owner of the facility was contacted and stated that there are more than four breeding female dogs on the premises. Records provided to USDA APHIS Animal Care (AC) indicate that a dog was sold by the owner, from this address, to a pet store on February 17, 2014. This constitutes a wholesale transaction and is a regulated activity. Any person operating or intending to operate as a dealer, who are not exempted from the licensing requirements, must have a valid license. The owner shall file a completed application form with the AC Regional Director if she would like to conduct any further regulated activity. The regulations and licensing requirements were discussed and an application packet was provided to the owner. ***NO REGULATED ACTIVITY MAY BE CONDUCTED UNTIL A USDA LICENSE IS OBTAINTED***