Circus Brings USDA-Documented Animal Cruelty to Miami

In Defense of Animals Asks Public to Boycott Circus Vazquez

August 8, 2008

Contact: Amanda Burk, 786-547-8826

Deborah Robinson, 860-836-7761

Melissa Gonzalez, 707-981-7701

Miami, Florida - A controversial circus with animal acts under multiple federal investigations has opened at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami. In Defense of Animals (IDA) is asking Miami citizens to boycott Circus Vazquez due to a history of animal welfare violations.

IDA informed Mayor Carlos Alvarez in a letter sent this week that Circus Vazquez' tiger act was cited for Animal Welfare Act violations for a March 31, 2008 fatal, tiger-on-tiger mauling. This followed numerous, previous U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citations for failing to provide the tigers adequate space.

The elephant act that Circus Vazquez has hired is under investigations by the USDA for Animal Welfare Act violations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) investigated the elephant handlers and confirmed violation of the Endangered Species Act. FWS is referring the case for prosecution.

"The citizens of Miami should not be party to the cruel and negligent treatment of animals in Circus Vazquez," wrote Elliot Katz, DVM, president of IDA. "We urge people to boycott the circus due to both public safety and animal welfare concerns."

In the March incident, a Circus Vazquez tiger was attacked, nearly decapitated, and killed by one or more of her cage mates after the circus left six tigers crammed together in one small cage. The Vazquez' troubles are not limited to tigers. Since February 2008, Circus Vazquez has been traveling with elephant handler Will Davenport. In the past year, the Davenport family has been repeatedly cited by the USDA for inhumane handling and failure to provide adequate veterinary care to three elephants, Queenie, Tina and Jewel. The City of Los Angeles recently ordered Will Davenport out of the city because of his terrible record of animal cruelty.

Additional problems surrounding the elephants include a history of physical abuse, neglect, and Animal Welfare Act violations for all three elephants. The USDA is actively investigating. It has already documented multiple wounds consistent with ankus (bullhook) abuse, eyewitness reports of beatings, and the "inappropriate and abusive use of the ankus and such use is likely to cause trauma, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort..."

In 2000, Circus Vazquez was involved in smuggling an elephant into Mexico, a crime for which the circus' owner was convicted in Mexico. In 2001, two elephants traveling with the circus rampaged through a church, nearly trampling two people, and causing an estimated $75,000 in damages.

For more information see www.helpelephants.com.