Animal park charged under AWA
Wellford, SC (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 31, 1996
County: Spartanburg

Disposition: USDA Citation

Persons of Interest:
» David R Meeks
» Lucia Fields Meeks

In November 1996, the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged licensed animal dealers David R. Meeks and Lucia Fields-Meeks, doing business as Hollywild Animal Park in Wellford, S.C., with violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

APHIS inspectors found that in 1995 the Meeks failed to:

-- Maintain complete records showing the acquisition, disposition, and identification of animals;

-- Maintain programs of disease control and prevention, euthanasia, and adequate veterinary care under the supervision and assistance of a doctor of veterinary medicine;

-- Provide veterinary care to animals in need of care;

-- Store supplies of food and bedding so as to adequately protect them against deterioration, molding, or contamination by vermin;

-- Make provisions for the removal and disposal of animal wastes so as to minimize vermin infestation, odors, and disease hazards;

-- Provide indoor lighting appropriate for the species involved and sufficient to permit routine inspection and cleaning;

-- Provide a suitable method to rapidly eliminate excess water from outdoor animal housing facilities;

-- Construct and maintain facilities in good repair so as to protect the animals from injury and to contain the animals;

-- Provide sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement;

-- Develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan for environmental enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates;

-- Provide animals with wholesome and uncontaminated food;

-- Keep the premises in good repair, clean, and free of trash, junk, waste, and discarded matter and weeds, grasses;

-- Adequately ventilate the facility for nonhuman primates; and

-- Provide animals kept outdoors with adequate shelter from inclement weather.

References

• USDA - November 8, 1996

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