PETA Asks FTC to Examine Aquarium Chain for Unfair Commerce Practices
For Instant Launch:
December 5, 2022
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Trumbull, Conn. – This morning, PETA submitted a criticism to the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) requesting that the company examine SeaQuest for unfair enterprise practices, noting that members of the general public—together with kids and different company in Trumbull—have been bitten and injured on the aquarium chain, which continues to market hands-on encounters with animals as protected, family-friendly leisure.
PETA’s criticism factors out that at SeaQuest Trumbull, an otter bit a baby on the hand and drew blood, posing a possible rabies danger; an otter bit one other youngster on the finger; a kinkajou scratched a younger youngster within the face whereas leaping off the kid’s shoulder to get to a meals bowl held by one other youngster; and a pig reportedly bit a buyer’s finger.
“SeaQuest’s animal encounters have induced vital bodily harm to an unsuspecting public, thereby violating the FTC Act’s prohibition on unfair commerce practices,” says PETA Basis Director of Captive Animal Legislation Enforcement Michelle Sinnott. “PETA is looking on the federal government to behave earlier than one other individual is wounded or worse at these services, that are ticking time bombs.”
Only a month after SeaQuest Trumbull opened, it acquired a proper warning from the Connecticut Division of Power and Environmental Safety (DEEP), and it’s been in sizzling water with that company ever since, largely due to accidents to company. On the finish of final yr, PETA requested that DEEP revoke SeaQuest’s exempt exhibitor standing. In Could, state officers despatched a letter to SeaQuest formally terminating its standing as an exempt exhibitor. SeaQuest appealed that call, and out of that enchantment got here a settlement settlement that required the ability to take away a porcupine and two kinkajous however allowed it to keep up its exempt exhibitor standing.
PETA—whose motto reads, partially, that “animals usually are not ours to make use of for leisure” and which opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview—notes that a whole lot of animals have died at SeaQuest places throughout the nation. The chain’s CEO, Vince Covino, was fined $5,000 in 2017 for violations of the Idaho Uniform Securities Act after failing to disclose a previous disciplinary motion to potential buyers.
After discussions with PETA, Sam’s Membership confirmed that it could finish its sale of tickets to SeaQuest, because of the chain’s string of animal deaths, neglect, authorized violations, and accidents to workers and the general public.
For extra info on PETA’s investigative newsgathering and reporting, please go to PETA.org or comply with the group on Twitter, Fb, or Instagram.