Stop abuse at wild animal petting zoos!

Friend,

Keeping wild animals in small, bare cages inside a retail shopping mall is not only absurd but abhorrently cruel. And yet, animals live in similar sad conditions at hundreds of petting zoos across the country at facilities where animals are meant to be protected by the Animal Welfare Act.

From being forced to live in filthy, sometimes cockroach infested, holding pens to never being able to see sunlight or express natural behaviors, animals are enduring shocking neglect and abuse in these businesses. Worse, all this pain is just for the temporary amusement of the public. We need urgent action to stop this dangerous exploitation and enforce lifesaving standards of animal welfare in petting zoos and other facilities regulated by the USDA. You’re a critical part of this effort, so please: Send a message to your legislators and tell them to support the Better CARE for Animals Act now.

Imagine hungry animals, who are forced to beg for food from paying customers, who live day after day in barren, filthy cages. Imagine them passed around and prodded like objects instead of treated like the living beings they are. Picture them suffering insect infestations, untreated cuts and silent illnesses without basic veterinary care. That's the reality of many petting zoos and other similar businesses all over the country. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Better CARE for Animals Act would help shut down cruel petting zoos by strengthening multi-agency collaboration to better enforce the Animal Welfare Act. That means businesses that harm animals and fail to provide essential care could be held accountable for their actions and suffering animals could receive lifesaving care. We’re counting on your support to push Congress to act and make this legislation an urgent priority. Please: Tell your legislators to support the Better CARE for Animals Act now to end suffering for countless animals.

Thank you for acting to end animal cruelty,

Sara Amundson
President
Humane World Action Fund