Hawthorn in Double Trouble Over Tigers

Update: PETA has now
confirmed that the USDA has not one but two
open investigations into AWA violations by the Hawthorn Corporation: one prompted by PETA’s complaint regarding Hawthorn’s use of Lance Ramos (see
below) to unlawfully exhibit tigers in violation of the USDA’s revocation of Ramos’ license and the other arising from a separate
case in Florida. Please urge the agency to follow the lead of governments
around the world in defending animals against abuse by circuses and exhibitors by permanently revoking
Hawthorn’s license.

Originally posted on February 8th, 2013: 

© www.sxx.hu/me4sakura

A History of Horrors

As PETA has learned from years of working to free animals
from Hawthorn’s cruel clutches, calling Hawthorn “notorious” is actually
putting it rather mildly. The exotic-animal exhibitor’s reprehensible history
of AWA violations include USDA citations issued on more than 60 occasions for Hawthorn’s
many failures to provide animals with proper veterinary care, nutrition, safe
or sanitary enclosures, safe or humane handling practices, exercise, and adequate
space.

The USDA’s previous enforcement actions against Hawthorn
have entailed multiple license suspensions, more than a quarter of a million
dollars in penalties, and confiscation or ordered surrender of at least 17
exotic animals. None of these actions have done anything to ensure even adequate treatment of the animals
Hawthorn forces to perform.

Law Without Justice?

The USDA has recognized that continuing to fail to adhere to
minimum standards of sanitation and feeding—both of which are chronic problems
for Hawthorn—are violations for which an AWA license should be revoked. Yet the
USDA appears to be granting Hawthorn preferential treatment by repeatedly renewing
its license.

Someone whose license was
permanently revoked is animal trainer Lance Ramos (aka “Lancelot
Kollman”) after AWA citations for, among other cruelty, using physical
abuse as a “training tool” on exotic cats to the point that at least one
of them died and denying adequate veterinary care to an elephant so severely
emaciated that he was a full ton underweight when the USDA confiscated him. Despite this, Hawthorn brought Ramos on board to train and exhibit tigers, and
PETA has provided evidence to the USDA that he recently illegally exhibited the big cats with a Shrine circus and Showfolks
Circus. 

What You Can Do

Every day that Hawthorn remains licensed is a day that
animals are suffering. Please send a polite e-mail to USDA General
Counsel Ramona Romero urging the agency to revoke Hawthorn’s license immediately
and permanently disqualify its employees and agents from obtaining a USDA
license.