Big Cats at Wildlife in Need in Charlestown, Indiana (Photos: wildlifeinneed.org)
A federal judge approved a settlement Tuesday that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says sets an important legal precedent that declawing exotic cats without medical necessity is a violation of the Endangered Species Act.
In the settlement, Pelphrey agrees never to do so again.
PETA says declawing causes physical and mental distress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says declawing is not allowed under the Animal Welfare Act because it "can cause considerable pain and discomfort to the animal and may result in chronic health problems."
Pelphrey doesn't deny declawing the cats, but says it’s a safe and minimally invasive procedure used on domestic cats all over the country.
And he says he only agreed to the settlement because it was the easiest way to end the litigation.
"In this country you used to be innocent until proven guilty, but the culture’s changed," Pelphrey says. "Somebody can make whatever claims they want to make against you and then it’s up to you to prove you’re innocent."
Pelphrey also disputes some of the allegations laid out in court documents, including that two cubs died because of a "botched" declawing procedure; Pelphrey says he thinks those cubs died of other causes.
Brittany Peet is the director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement for the PETA Foundation.
She says the agreement is the first time a court has agreed that declawing violates the Endangered Species Act.
"PETA’s suit against Wildlife in Need seeks to have all of the big and exotic cats transferred to appropriate facilities where they can get the care that they desperately need," Peet says.
Wildlife in Need is a not-for-profit center owned and operated by Tim Stark. It houses bears, monkeys and big cats like lions and tigers. The public can also interact with the animals.
The refuge has been at the center of controversy the last few years.
In 2015, the USDAtried to permanently terminate Stark’s animal exhibition license on the basis of a 2007 conviction for violating the Endangered Species Act. At the time, Stark was fined $5,000 and given three years of probation. But, aUSDA judicial officer decidedthat wasn’t grounds for terminating the current license.
