Timeline
August 15, 2005
AWR advertises primates for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
August 1, 2005
AWR advertises primates for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
July 1, 2005
AWR advertises primates for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
June 1, 2005
AWR advertises tigers and primates for sale.
Most issues of Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers, prominently feature an ad from AWR for “Royal White Tiger Cubs.” Not only does a true sanctuary refrain from making a bad situation worse by breeding animals, but to breed white tigers is the height of irresponsibility. White tigers are not an endangered species in need of saving. They’re not even a species! They are simply an aberrant color variation of Bengal tigers. All captive white tigers are extensively inbred, which has led to serious congenital defects, including cataracts, club feet, and near-crippling hip dysplasia. Breeding white tigers serves no conservation purpose and is done solely for amusement and profit. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Tiger Species Survival Plan condemns the breeding of white tigers.
May 1, 2005
AWR advertises white tiger cubs for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
April 1, 2005
AWR advertises tigers and primates for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
October 1, 2004
AWR advertises white tiger cubs for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
September 15, 2004
AWR advertises white tiger cubs for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
July 1, 2004
AWR advertises white tiger cubs for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
March 25, 2004
Azzopardi pleads guilty to violations of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
March 2004
PETA reports that a chimpanzee was abandoned by the Saint Louis Zoo and left to live in misery.
One of the chimpanzees living in squalor at the Amarillo Wildlife Refuge is Edith, an elderly chimpanzee who was born at the Saint Louis Zoo nearly 40 years ago. Please ask the Saint Louis Zoo to rescue Edith from her miserable situation and send her to a sanctuary where she can enjoy a peaceful, dignified retirement.
February 24, 2004
Regal Entertainment Group says “no”
February 24, 2004
PETA notifies the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that experts condemn the deplorable conditions and inadequate animal care at Amarillo Wildlife Refuge.
- PETA’s letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Statement from Dr. James Mahoney
- Statement from Dr. Carole Noon
- Statement from Dr. Roger Fouts
- Statement from Dr. Mel Richardson
- Statement from Dr. Marc Bekoff
January 8, 2004
PETA alleges defamation.
In response to PETA’s exposé of the squalid conditions and severe neglect of the animals at Amarillo Wildlife Refuge, Charles Azzopardi and one of the facility’s volunteers have declared that PETA’s investigator “staged” the photographs and videotape recordings used to support our complaints to authorities. They’ve even gone so far as to falsely claim that our investigator herself was responsible for the neglect!
January 6, 2004
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the attorney general of Texas investigate PETA’s complaints.
The findings of PETA’s undercover investigation were forwarded to the USDA with a request that it investigate violations of the Animal Welfare Act, to the USFWS with a request that it investigate violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and to the office of the attorney general of Texas with a request that it dissolve the corporation and thus its status as a charitable corporation at the state level.
January 1, 2004
AWR advertises white tiger cubs for sale in Animal Finders’ Guide, a trade publication for exotic animal breeders and dealers.
December 29, 2003
PETsMART says “no” to Amarillo Wildlife Refuge.
December 14, 2003
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection report substantiates PETA’s findings.
A USDA inspection of AWR conducted shortly after PETA’s investigation produced eight pages of Animal Welfare Act noncompliant items, including absence of a veterinary program, animals in need of veterinary care, filthy conditions, inappropriate feeding, predominantly rotted fruits and vegetables, and a lack of enrichment for the primates.
September 21 and 23, 2003, and October 1, 2003
Pictures show squalid conditions persist after PETA’s investigator left AWR.