Queenie Still Needs Your Help!

[Omaha Steve]

https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1485

Urge Senate Agriculture Committee to investigate USDA’s role in sending her to inadequate zoo

After a lifetime of abuse in the circus industry, and over the objections of IDA, elephant experts, and thousands of caring citizens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) orchestrated the transfer of the elephant Queenie last month to the San Antonio Zoo, as part of a settlement with abusive circus handler Will Davenport. In San Antonio, she joins the misnamed Lucky, who has spent nearly her entire life confined in an outdated and inadequate pen unfit for one elephant, much less two.queenie san antonio zoo caption




IDA has sent a letter urging the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which oversees the USDA, to conduct a full investigation into the agency’s actions in brokering Queenie’s transfer to San Antonio. The letter details the highly unusual conditions of the settlement, financial pressure exerted on Davenport to send Queenie to the zoo, and approval of a facility that does not provide the specialized rehabilitative care Queenie needs.

For an agency empowered with welfare oversight of these animals, the USDA manipulated a result with shockingly little attention to Queenie’s welfare. The agency could and should have ensured that she was sent to a sanctuary best suited for her special needs. Instead, it slashed fines levied against Davenport for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act in exchange for Queenie’s transfer to an antiquated elephant display.

Though the Committee reportedly may hold a meeting with the USDA regarding its handling of Queenie, it is unlikely that any such meeting would be sufficient to help her. A full investigation is both necessary and appropriate to the situation.

Queenie has endured many decades of intense confinement, abusive training, constant travel and neglect, and she is entitled to a true retirement in a stable environment where she can get the care she needs. The PAWS Sanctuary stands ready to give Queenie a lifetime home, away from the stress of public exhibition.

The Senate committee can remedy this situation by holding the USDA accountable and ensuring Queenie’s move to the sanctuary. Please don’t hesitate - send a fax today!

What You Can Do

1) Please urge the Senate committee to launch an investigation by sending the fax at the bottom of this page to Committee Chair Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Ranking Member Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA).

2) Please continue to call Agriculture Sec. Vilsack's office to tell him of your dismay over Queenie's situation. You may be directed to another number but please follow through - it is vital that the Secretary know that the widespread concern over Queenie is not dying down. Phone: [phone]

Submitting the form below will fax your message to:

* Senator Blanche Lincoln, Chair
* Senator Saxby Chambliss, Ranking Member

TAKE ACTION AT LINK: https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1485

[secondwind]

1. this is disgusting....I just signed up. :-(

[madmax]

2. I also added a personal note

Does something like this require a friggen Act of Congress. Just move the poor beast. :wtf:

[pitohui]

3. just what, exactly, is your objection to the san antonio zoo?

it's a fine zoo to all appearances, this appears to be a squabble between the PAWS sanctuary wanting to get their hands on the animal even though the elephant has already been removed from its abusive conditions and placed at san antonio zoo

you're going to have to give me a better reason than "PAWS wants the animal and the publicity" before i can sign onto an objection against the san antonio zoo holding the animal

i've written a few letters in my time to USDA abt some of their more bizarre or ridiculous rulings about exotic animals but i'm just not seeing why this ruling was wrong other than "i say so!"

[madmax]

4. I need to start reading things more carefully. nt