In June 2000, the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged Heidi Berry Riggs and James Riggs, animal exhibitors jointly licensed as Bridgeport Nature Center and doing business as the Great Cats of the World, with violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
"The violations we found in this case put both the animals involved and the viewing public at serious risk of injury," said W. Ron DeHaven, deputy administrator for animal care with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and regulatory programs mission area. "In fact, these violations were so egregious that we denied James Riggs application for a separate AWA license."
Numerous times, APHIS investigators found that the Riggs failed to handle dangerous animals so that the there was minimal risk of harm to the animals and to the public. They also did not keep dangerous animals under the direct control of a knowledgeable and experienced animal handler.
"These charges also directly conflict with a previous AWA settlement between Heidi Berry Riggs and the USDA," DeHaven said. "If the Riggs are found guilty of these violations, the previous agreement could be nullified." Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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