"The federal license allowing the infamous Hugo "Tommy" Liebel to exhibit the neglected elephant Nosey is set to expire on January 30, and Nosey needs your help now. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Liebel with hundreds
of Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, yet it renews Liebel's license
year after year. Liebel's decades-long abuse and neglect of Nosey must
end, and the USDA must refuse to renew his license once and for all.
The USDA has cited Liebel again and again for mistreating
Nosey by shackling her with short chains, denying her veterinary care,
and failing to safely handle her. According to the affidavit of a former
employee, a Liebel trainer once "used the [bullhook] handle, turned off
the lights in the performance ring and beat the elephant" while she was
"staked down by all four legs." He also attested that Nosey was
routinely shocked with electric prods. Other animals have also suffered
in Liebel's neglectful hands—the USDA has cited Liebel for keeping
spider monkeys in "extremely dirty and soiled" enclosures, leaving a
spider monkey tethered dangerously to a pony, and allowing the escape of
a spider monkey who was not recaptured for six weeks.
Just earlier this year, Liebel was ordered to pay a $7,500 penalty and to cease and desist from violating the law following nearly three dozen charges
of violations of the AWA. Most of the charges related to Liebel's
mistreatment of Nosey, including repeatedly chaining her so tightly that
she could barely move and denying her necessary veterinary care. Enough
is enough. Liebel has not demonstrated compliance with the AWA, and the
USDA must not rubber-stamp his license again.
Please join PETA today in politely urging the USDA not to renew Liebel's exhibitor's license."
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