Posted January 30, 2013 by Whitney Calk
After PETA filed multiple complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding horrific violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the USDA charged the notoriously cruel Chief Saunooke Bear Park (CSBP) with more than a dozen violations—including failure to supply food for its public feedings that met the bears’ nutritional needs (they allowed visitors to feed them cat food and Lucky Charms cereal—WTF?!), failure to provide bears with adequate veterinary care, and forcing bears to eat from filthy, unsanitary food containers.
The park has now agreed to pay a fine and, most importantly, surrender its license.
The license will remain suspended until the dismal facility is able to prove that it’s following all AWA regulations—if it ever can. A recent PETA undercover investigation at CSBP revealed that staff members were deliberately depriving bears of food and that animals are so stressed from being constantly confined to small, concrete pits that they pace repeatedly and gnaw at the metal cage bars.
While fines and a suspended license for the bear pit are a step in the right direction, these bears need more.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Hello! My name is Nina, and I am a musician-in-training, and I play 7 instruments. I am a liberal, an LGBT activist, avid reader, composer, singer, and poi spinner. I am vegan, and a strong supporter of animal rights.
Born and raised in Mexico. I love vegan food and animals!
I was born in Canada and love peta2. I table every month and meet new people:older and younger. I love music and play the recorder. I'm a 6 year spelling bee champion. Again I love peta2!
I have always lived in Los Angeles but my family and I went to Mexico for my parents wedding. So we came back to LA. I don't like LA but were here already what can I do unless I move out and find my own housing. I have always liked animals and it was til I was like about 14 when I learned about tests they do on animals and I began to explore animal cruelty because I was interested it in it. I have watched videos that just broke my heart so that's why today I'm doing all I can to not buy anything that has harmed an animal and I'm vegetarian .
I'm tall, I love sewing, fashion and the environment, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.) Obviously, I love animals! :)
111 days ago
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I used to go to this bear park all the time when I was little. It was my favorite thing to do in Cherokee. Now, as an adult, I see how extremely sad and cruel this park is. It makes me feel really guilty for going through there every summer…
134 days ago
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They need to be in prison! They need to be behind bars like those poor bears were and feel there pain.
135 days ago
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Absolutely…yank their license! And make sure they can’t get a new one ever!