Rep. Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers From Secretary of Agriculture On Dangerous Loopholes And Enforcement Failures Of The Animal Welfare Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Thomas Vilsack, and the Administrator of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Kevin Shea, demanding answers on the lax enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. This letter was sent in response to the escape of three zebras, and the tragic death of one of them, from their Maryland owner who had been cited by the USDA for more than 100 past violations of the Animal Welfare Act. This instance is an example of the startling fact that U.S. enforcement action brought against licensed animal facilities fell by 90 percent between 2015 and 2020.

"It saddens me to say that better enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act would have prevented the escape of these three zebras, and tragic death of one of them," Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote. "The owner of these animals Jerry Holly has been cited by the USDA for more than 100 past violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including the failure to maintain fencing around the pastures that contained the zebras. His other violations of the Animal Welfare Act include providing unclean housing, water, and medical care to his animals. As a result of the escape of these zebras, Holly has now been charged by the state's attorney for Prince George's County with three counts of animal cruelty."

As the author of the Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act, Rep. Krishnamoorthi inquired as to why the owner of these zebras was allowed to maintain his "Class A Breeder" license under the Animal Welfare Act and requested information on what the USDA can do to improve enforcement of this crucial law to protect animals.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi requested a response to his letter by November 9th 2021.

A copy of the letter can be found here.