Animal exhibitor's USDA license is suspended
Scotts Valley, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 31, 1992
County: Santa Cruz
Disposition: USDA Citation
Person of Interest: Jeanne Elinor Milewski
In July 1995, the U.S. Department of Agriculture charged animal exhibitor Jeanne Milewski, doing business as American Wildlife Rescue in Scotts Valley, Calif., with violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA complaint was issued June 6.
APHIS inspectors found that from January 1993 through January 1994 Milewski and American Wildlife Rescue failed to:
--permit APHIS inspectors to conduct a complete inspection of animal facilities and records;
--maintain complete records showing the acquisition, disposition, and identification of animals;
--individually identify dogs;
--provide a sufficient distance or barrier between animals and the general viewing public during public exhibitions;
--provide an identifiable employee or attendant during periods of public contact;
--store supplies of food or bedding in a manner that protects them from spoilage, contamination, and vermin infestation;
--provide for the regular and frequent collection, removal, and disposal of animal food wastes, bedding, debris, garbage, water, other fluids and wastes, and dead animals, in a manner that minimizes contamination and disease risks;
--maintain structurally sound animal housing facilities in good repair so as to protect the animals from injury, to contain the animals, and restrict the entrance of other animals;
--provide nonhuman primates and other animals with potable water;
--keep the premises clean and in good repair and free of trash accumulations;
--establish and maintain an effective pest control program;
--utilize a sufficient number of employees so as to maintain the prescribed level of husbandry practices;
--maintain written programs of disease control and prevention, euthanasia, and adequate veterinary care under the supervision and assistance of a veterinarian; and
--provide a suitable method to eliminate excess water rapidly from outdoor animal housing facilities.
On June 12, 2000, a U.S. Department of Agriculture administrative law judge found Jeanne Milewski and the American Wildlife Rescue Service, Inc., both of Scotts Valley, Calif., guilty of violating the Animal Welfare Act.
"Milewski didn't even provide her animals with the minimum standards required by law," 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. "Through the legal system, we were able to take away her license to operate."
Milewski and the American Wildlife Rescue Service were jointly fined $15,000. That amount is suspended provide they do not violate the AWA for a period of one year. In addition, Milewski and the American Wildlife Rescue Service must surrender their license to the USDA by August 14, 2000. After the license is surrendered, they cannot reapply for a license for a period of one year.
Milewski and the American Wildlife Rescue Service have a limited time to appeal this decision. The appeals process for AWA cases begins with a judicial review officer. If the decision by the judicial review officer is appealed, the case leaves the USDA administrative court and enters the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
References- USDA - July 17, 1995
- USDA - June 12, 2000
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