Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Animal exhibitor charged under AWA

Animal exhibitor charged under AWA
Columbia Station, OH (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 19, 2000
County: Lorain
Local Map: available
Disposition: USDA Citation
Case Images: 1 files available

Person of Interest: Sam Mazzola

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 6105

Classification: Unlawful Trade/Smuggling, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: raccoon, other wildlife, captive exotic

View more cases in OH (US)

Drugs or alcohol involved

Animal was bound

World Animal Studios (Sam Mazzola) USDA License #31-C-0065 located at 9978 N. Marks Rd., Columbia Station, OH was charged September 19, 2000 for failure to have a responsible person available in order that an inspection could be performed.

World Animal Studios has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited World Animal Studios numerous times for failure to have a responsible person available for inspections as well as for housing incompatible species and poor housekeeping. The USDA issued an official warning to World Animal Studios for operating without a license. World Animal Studios� bear �wrestling� event has been canceled in several communities that considered it dangerous and inhumane. Bears with World Animal Studios have caused injuries to the public and property damage.

Animals in recent inventory: 5 tigers, 2 lions, 7 bears, 2 bobcats, 2 leopards, 5 raccoons, a fox, and a cougar.

September 19, 2000: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for failure to have a responsible person available in order that an inspection could be performed.

August 29, 1998: According to the Dayton Daily News, the Darke County Fair Board ordered World Animal Studios to leave the Ohio fair after it determined that having children and adults pose for pictures with wild animals is unsafe and inappropriate. World Animal Studios offered photo ops with a bear and a tiger. The humane society had also received several complaints that the bear appeared to be drugged.

May 7, 1998: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for housing predator and prey animals near each other.

April 1, 1998: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for failure to have a responsible person available in order that an inspection could be performed.

October 28, 1997: The Plain Dealer reported that a judge suspended a one-year prison term for illegal firearms possession on the condition that Sam Mazzola take classes to control his anger.

September 17, 1997: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for failure to correct a previously identified violation of poor housekeeping. The exhibitor was also cited for incomplete records for two 2-1/2-week-old female lions and a 4-week-old male tiger acquired from Noah's land.

April 21, 1997: Police seized an adult black bear and a 3-month-old cub from World Animal Studios at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Mount Clemens, Mich., where the bears were used for photo ops at a flea market. Mazzola was charged with violating a local ordinance against wild animals and arrested for disorderly conduct. Officers at the scene were appalled at the condition of the bear's trailer. The 6-foot-6-inch, 535-pound male adult bear was kept in a cage measuring only 7 feet x4 feet. The cage was littered with feces and urine. The bears were brought to the Detroit Zoo, where zoo officials said the adult bear could be dangerous and appeared to be overfed, and the cub, who was too young to be away from his mother, was found in a crate that appeared to lack proper ventilation.

February 7, 1997: Super Sales, a traveling flea market, "decided to terminate its contract with World Animal Studios." The exhibitor had been featuring a 4-year-old black bear, who was poked, prodded, and pulled in order to make him sit upright for the camera, in photo ops with the public.

November 4, 1996: World Animal Studios was cited by the USDA for poor housekeeping.

June 19, 1994: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for failure to have a responsible person available in order that an inspection could be performed.

May 18, 1994: Officials with the Department of Natural Resources in Winnipeg, Manitoba, warned that they would seize World Animal Studios' bear and charge handlers with illegally bringing a wild animal into the province if a scheduled "wrestling" match at the Continental Motor Inn took place.

February 3, 1994: The USDA cited World Animal Studios for failure to have a responsible person available in order that an inspection could be performed.

January 1994: Mazzola called 911 to report that former employees had taken his handgun and fired at him. Mazzola later pleaded guilty to charges of violating an Ohio law that prohibits convicted felons from possessing a firearm.

November 24, 1993: The USDA issued World Animal Studios an official warning for failure to obtain a license prior to engaging in USDA-regulated activities.

November 16, 1993: According to The Columbus Dispatch, B.K. Flyers Nite Club decided to cancel World Animal Studios' bear "wrestling" events in response to numerous complaints, which included a strong objection from the mayor. For $10, customers could "wrestle" the bear and win $1,000 for pinning him to the ground.

January 23, 1993: The Courier-Journal reported that a Jefferson Circuit Court judge in Kentucky decided that World Animals Studios� bear �wrestling� would violate a state law that prohibits an animal from being matched against another animal or a person. The bear had been scheduled to appear at the Toy Tiger Lounge. The judge also commented that the match would probably not be much fun for the bear.

February 8, 1992: World Animals Studios' "wrestling" bear event was canceled at Gazander's in Chicago, Ill., after city officials determined that it would violate cruelty statutes as well as an ordinance that prohibits bringing animals into establishments where food is served.

November 6, 1990: World Animal Studios' "wrestling" bear event was canceled at Gazander Restaurant & Lounge in Hickory Hills, Ill., after police warned of arrests for violating local ordinances that prohibit possessing dangerous animals and bringing animals into establishments where food is served.

January 24, 1990: Sam Mazzola was sentenced to 18 months in prison for trafficking in cocaine.

April 15, 1989: The Plain Dealer reported that a six-month investigation led to an indictment against Sam Mazzola and nine others on charges of distributing cocaine and steroids. Authorities stated that some members of the drug ring were trading cocaine for anabolic steroids and others were selling cocaine. Approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $3 million, was distributed in the Cleveland area.

January 21, 1989: The Flash Gordon Bar in Kamms Corners, Ohio, was charged with allowing gambling and improper conduct on the premises in connection with featuring World Animal Studios' "wrestling" bear. The city council deemed the event �objectionable and dangerous."

April 1, 1988: Smokey, a declawed 7-foot bear belonging to Mazzola, escaped from a steel cage in Mazzola�s barn and attacked a neighbor. The bear was used for "wrestling." Wildlife officials cited Mazzola for failing to have the proper state permits for Smokey and for a bear cub named Magnum who also lived in the barn. Mazzola was arrested and charged with obstructing official business after quarreling with the state game protector.

April 10, 1987: The Plain Dealer reported that a man who was injured during a "wrestling match" with a bear filed a $300,000 lawsuit against Mazzola. The man received stitches for a bite wound to the arm and stated that promoters were taunting drunken bar patrons to wrestle the bear, claiming it was harmless.

1983: Mazzola was fined after his bear caused $1,000 of damage to a North Royalton, Ohio, police cruiser.

Case Updates

November 12, 2005, Vito's Pizza in South Toledo got an 850-pound black bear and, in return, the bear got lots and lots of pizza. The bear, part of a slightly less than subtle publicity stunt, attracted about 500 people to the new pizzeria pretty much like honey attracts bears. Among them, Jimmy Thomas, who is just 5 years old and not even 3-feet-tall and who had no problem cozying up to Lakota during a photo op. But it wasn't long before the boy darted away from the bear, which he accurately described as "big and hairy," although it wasn't because he was frightened. There was free pepperoni pizza, and the line was long.

The restaurant at 315 South Detroit Ave. near Airport Highway baked more than 400 pizzas for the event. "The bear is our best customer," joked Kevin Ullery, owner of the new franchise. "We noticed dozens of pizzas all going to one household - and it was his."
However, we don't know exactly what that says about Vito's pizza. It's well-known that bears will eat pretty much anything.
Apparently, so will 12 Bowsher High School students who, as part of the festivities, engaged Lakota in a pizza-eating contest.
Stevie Crumby, 16, a member of the school's football team, said confidently that he could put down 10 slices - and boasted that he might even beat the bear. "At the least, I think I can keep up," he said with a bit more reserve moments later. Lakota finished his pie in three minutes flat. At that point, Stevie and his classmates were barely finished with three slices each. Sam Mazzola, a Lorain County animal trainer and rescuer who owns Lakota, said the 13-year-old bear has appeared in movies and is completely safe.
"It's an opportunity for people to come up and touch him, which is something they've probably never done," Mr. Mazzola said.

Stunts like yesterday's sometimes attract the attention of animal-right's organizations. Lisa Wathne, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said she would contact the owner of Vito's this week and ask him not to consider another event with an exotic animal. She also had harsh words for Mr. Mazzola. "Sam Mazzola is one of several people who drags around exotic animals for stunts like this," Ms. Wathne said. "People don't stop to think that the animals � are subjected to really horrible transport conditions and many are declawed and have all or some of their teeth pulled." Mr. Mazzola brushed aside PETA's claims, saying his animals are well-cared for and all very happy.
Another animal, of sorts, who was pretty happy yesterday was Muddy the Mud Hen. He also attended the grand opening - we told you it was a publicity stunt - and escaped the attention of Lakota's apparent voracious appetite. Oh, and Mr. Ullery, who might be described by one popular cartoon carnivore as "smarter than the average bear," was happy too. His grand opening was a hit.

Source: Toledo Blade - November 13, 2005
Update posted on Dec 29, 2005 - 12:25AM

Back to Top

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Add this case to:

Del.icio.us

Digg

Furl

References

WildLife - October 2000

« OH State Animal Cruelty Map

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy

Animal exhibitor charged under AWAColumbia Station, OH (US)

Case Updates

Neighborhood Map

References

Animal exhibitor charged under AWA
Columbia Station, OH (US)