Serenity Springs Wildlife Center in Calhan, Colo., has applied for a Captive-Bred Wildlife Permit with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has urged the FWS to reject the application, because of concerns about possible violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Amanda Schwoerke, attorney for PETA, said, ìWe had a number of reasons to ask them not to issue it. The breeding program is extremely haphazard; they have this long record of animals dying of abuse and neglect.î Schwoerke said the United States Department of Agriculture is working with a judge to suspend or terminate the sanctuaryís AWA license because of numerous citations from the USDA.ìThe bottom line is we’re asking the USDA to enforce the law before more animals suffer and die at Serenity Springs,î Schwoerke said. ìWe want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Serenity Springs does have a long history of contempt for the law. As well as violating the Endangered Species Act, they have twice been cited for occupational safety (issues).î Schwoerke said PETA is basing their position on information theyíve obtained from the USDA. Colleen Carroll, attorney with the USDA, said the owner of the facility, Nick Sculac, can expect various outcomes depending on the judgeís ruling. Sculac could possibly face revocation of his USDA license or monetary penalties, Carroll said. The information in the complaints was garnered from USDA inspections. Inspection reports from the USDA from October 2009 to May 2012 can be found at http://911animalabuse.com, and all reports are available upon request from the USDA.The USDA inspection reports include information about animal enclosures, the facility’s perimeter fencing, food preparation areas for the animals and sanitary conditions. The inspection report from May 6, 2013, noted a need for veterinary care for two tiger cubs. Staff had noticed some lameness in the cubs two days prior to the inspection. According to the report, the inspector asked the facility to have the cubs evaluated by a veterinarian by the next morning. However, the inspector wasnít able to access the facility the next morning. Inspectors had again attempted access to the facility on subsequent trips. They were finally able to follow up with an inspection on June 22; and, according to the report, ìThe treatment plan provided by the attending veterinarian is being followed.îNick Sculac said their application for a breeding permit is on hold, and their attorneys are limiting all public comments. But Sculacís wife, Julie, said PETA has not been to the facility, and she said she questions their negative comments about somewhere they havenít visited in person. The attorneys have approved the following statement: ìThe USDA has filed a complaint against Big Cats of Serenity Springs, and that case is currently pending. Many of the allegations are completely baseless, and we look forward to being vindicated when the case is finally heard. While the case is pending, however, we have been advised not to comment on it. If you would like to send us a written request for comment, we will be glad to review it and will consider replying at that time.î
