Circus coming to Rochester, NH Fair allegedly cited for living conditions of animals
By LARRY BROWN lbrown@fosters.com
By LARRY BROWN lbrown@fosters.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
ROCHESTER, NH — Despite concerns from a local resident and information gleaned from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) website, Coronas of Hollywood, the familiar circus that attends Rochester's Fair, will do so again this year.
According to PETA's website, Coronas of Hollywood has had 21 Animal Welfare Act violations dating back to 1997.
"Circus Hollywood has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Circus Hollywood for repeated failure to provide a program of veterinary care, failure to provide shelter from the elements, failure to provide environmental enrichment to primates for the promotion of the animals' psychological well-being, failure to provide adequate space, and providing animals with dirty drinking water," reads PETA's website.
Serge Coronas, owner of Circus Hollywood (Coronas of Hollywood), said, the only violation the USDA ticketed him with this year was a "fly problem." According to Coronas, the entire State of Florida had a fly problem this year because of the wet weather, and not because of unfavorable conditions.
"PETA is PETA," said Coronas. "If we did anything wrong, they (USDA) would shut us down."
The fair's general manager, Mark Perry, also said he was unaware of the company ever having a problem in Rochester.
"If there were any issues concerning them, I would certainly know about it," Perry said. "Their animals are well taken care of up here."
Coronas, who said his family has been in the business for four generations, added that a lot of the old structures for the circus are being torn down to make way for newer ones.
"The Rochester Fair would not have us there if it wasn't a clean operation," he said.
According to PETA's website, Coronas of Hollywood has had 21 Animal Welfare Act violations dating back to 1997.
"Circus Hollywood has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Circus Hollywood for repeated failure to provide a program of veterinary care, failure to provide shelter from the elements, failure to provide environmental enrichment to primates for the promotion of the animals' psychological well-being, failure to provide adequate space, and providing animals with dirty drinking water," reads PETA's website.
Serge Coronas, owner of Circus Hollywood (Coronas of Hollywood), said, the only violation the USDA ticketed him with this year was a "fly problem." According to Coronas, the entire State of Florida had a fly problem this year because of the wet weather, and not because of unfavorable conditions.
"PETA is PETA," said Coronas. "If we did anything wrong, they (USDA) would shut us down."
The fair's general manager, Mark Perry, also said he was unaware of the company ever having a problem in Rochester.
"If there were any issues concerning them, I would certainly know about it," Perry said. "Their animals are well taken care of up here."
Coronas, who said his family has been in the business for four generations, added that a lot of the old structures for the circus are being torn down to make way for newer ones.
"The Rochester Fair would not have us there if it wasn't a clean operation," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment