farrahtales:
Ontario has no laws controlling aquariums and zoos, or protecting the animals inside. Without those laws no one will be able to save the animals of Marineland.
I’ve seen animals living in filthy water, blind seals, and dolphins with their skin falling off. After 12 years as Marineland’s top trainer, I had to quit my job so I could speak out and save these animals from the extreme neglect I witnessed at Marineland. Shortly after I left, this continued with the death of a baby beluga forced into a tank she didn’t belong in.
But there is one barrier to saving these animals. There are no laws controlling zoos or aquariums in Ontario. The SPCA is welcome to investigate, but without these laws no one can do anything to stop this neglect.
That’s why I started a petition on Change.org demanding Premier Dalton McGuinty establish a law protecting animals at aquariums and zoos.
This isn’t the first time animal neglect has been exposed at Marineland. Many trainers have quit before me. After each scandal, groups have called for the Government to act, but no progress is ever made. This time, however, the public outrage is louder than ever, and since Premier McGuinty only has a minority government he is much more likely to act.
Click here to join me in saving Marineland’s animals once and for all.
For the animals,
Phil Demers, ex Marineland trainer
Please help this petition reach 100,000 signatures!
Click here for an exposing video & article on Marineland
”Six of the park’s seven seals are blind, have impaired vision or have had serious eye problems because of exposure to unhealthy water…”
”Five female dolphins […] swam almost continuously in bad water in a concrete pool […] They lay at the bottom in murky green water or breeched and thrashed wildly, their reactions changing with the chemicals. Their skin fell off in chunks, their colour darkened and they refused to eat. This lasted intermittently for eight months…”
“…baby beluga Skoot died after a two-hour assault by two adult male belugas in an incident former trainers say points to understaffing at the park.”
”Walruses in captivity crave human attention and yet former trainer Bentivegna says they were left days at a time in their dark barn pens with no stimulation apart from feeding. Demers says nothing has changed. Walrus vomiting and weight loss is a recurring problem at Marineland.”
”Baker is a big guy, the only male sea lion swimming mindless laps during our two recent visits to the Aquarium. He used to be the clown, the funny fellow with the clear eyes, still featured in ‘Attractions Niagara.’
Now his body is scarred and itchy with patches of missing fur. Every time he passes he rubs his head hard against the side, trying to scratch himself over and over. His eyes are squeezed so tightly shut it looks like he doesn’t have any. For all intents and purposes, he doesn’t.”
This is a nightmare.
Phil Demers writes in his most recent update…
“Premier McGuinty still says he’s going to wait until the Ontario SPCA investigation of Marineland is finished, even though we made it perfectly clear that no matter what the OSPCA finds - animals in zoos and aquariums across Ontario are still not protected. Currently, anyone in Ontario can start a zoo or aquarium without a license, training or expertise, and there’s no oversight or inspections. Worst of all there are no ways to shut down bad zoos or aquariums.
We want a commitment that no matter what the OSPCA says Premier McGuinty will close these huge legal loopholes and will protect the Marineland animals and all other captive animals in Ontario with strong laws now.”
Please, sign the petition.
