Following the seizure of 119 animals from Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Frederick County, Virginia, a judge has ruled that owner Keith Wilson “cruelly treated, neglected, or deprived the animal[s] of adequate care.”
The ruling came on August 30 after a 12-hour seizure hearing at Frederick County General District Court. Animal welfare experts presented evidence demonstrating how the roadside zoo inhumanely and cruelly treated the exotic and agricultural animals. The evidence was corroborated by disturbing photographs and videos.
On August 15-16, officials seized the maltreated animals after a warrant was issued to investigate cruelty allegations. The animals included tigers, lions, water buffalo, camels, bears, goats and a monkey. Sadly, the rescue came too late for two of the animals — a lemur and cat — who were found dead.
Judge Charles B. Foley ordered the forfeiture of all the rescued animals and awarded custody to Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s Animal Law Unit.
The judge also demanded that Wilson post a $300,000 bond if he wished to appeal the decision and that he submit his property to inspection by animal control officers and vets every 90 days for a year to safeguard the welfare of the animals still in situ.
This isn’t the first time that the zoo has been accused of animal cruelty; officials have cited Wilson’s Wild Animal Park for numerous violations in the past.
The investigation is ongoing, and the zoo’s website states that it is closed until further notice. However, we must ensure that this barbaric roadside zoo is not allowed to open again.
Please contact Attorney General Mark Herring and urge him to close down Wilson’s Wild Animal Park permanently so that no more animals are maltreated or killed. Email: [email protected]
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Shut down all roadside zoos everywhere, and give the death penalty to all these animal abusers!
Please, close down permanently.
This animal needs to be removed and sent to a rehab and then released. We not to stop this imprisonment that we cause,
Anyone who cannot comprehend words like compassion and empathy will always lack the most basic human feeling, a
conscience. Keep a close eye on the devil.
Why didn’t this judge make sure this fiend could not own, or take care of ANY animals. This is beyond stupidity on the part of the idiot judge.
What the heck is the matter with american law ,that it allows these vile ,primitive archaic roadside zoos!!! They should be banned ! Animals kept like this is medieval! its the 21 cent!!! for goodness sake.Absolutely disgusting that this hell hole isnt promptly shut down !!
Well done judge Charles B. Foley. This is a good start to stopping this foul place. Now please close it down for good and punish the people who used these animals in a vile way for profit. Shame on the people who saw this and still kept quiet and visiting the place.
It is best to care for animals, for you may be next on the chopping block. You never know.
All roadside zoos should be forced to shut down! Exoctic animals should not have to live in cativity and especially captivity that abuses their animals! This should be a federal law so ALL roadside zoos are shut down!
people who do these horrific acts against defenseless animals do often eventually transfer their sadistic tendencies to humans…
it is our responsibility and Yours to protect all life…
Please do the right thing here and close this creep down once and for all…
What is it going to take to close the hell-hole forever? Wilson’s Wild Animal Park has been on radar for a while now.
How many animals must die in this place, and ALL other places like it, before we learn?
Accredited sanctuaries are the only places these animals should be going to – not back there for a 90-day inspection period.
Enough is enough!
Thank you Judge Foley, it’s a start.
Please I implore you to bring these animals to sanctuaries and to ban all parties involved in the cruelty and neglect from ever running a business to do with animals for life. Give him years of community service helping animals. Please set an example of this to ward any other humans from using animals for gross selfish profit.
Please I implore you to bring these animals to sanctuaries and to ban all parties involved in the cruelty and neglect from ever running a business to do with animals for life. Give him years of community service helping animals. Please set an example of this to ward any other humans from using animals for gross selfish profit.
How will an inspection every 90 days save any animals? One can starve to death in that length of time. All the animals should be removed and re-homed, preferably to a place where they can be what they are created to be — free. There is ample evidence that the zookeepers are inadequate for the job and do not need to be in charge of any living thing.
This zoo must be permanently closed down. Whatever the maximum penalty of the law is, it is still too lenient for them.
So happy for these animals!
So happy for these animals!
Thank you for your compassion for these sentient creatures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are to make allegations, I want to see pictures.
These majestic animail are not play toys, nor were they put on this planet for explotation by greedy SOB’s