Letter%20to%20the%20USDA%20-%20110606[1]

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    CERTIFIED MAILED TO:United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)Attention: Dr Robert Gibbens, D.V.M.Director - Animal Care - Western Region

    Animal Plant & Health Inspection Service (APHIS)Animal Care (AC)2150 Centre Ave B 3W11Fort Collins, Colorado 80526-8117November 6, 2006RE: The Animal Sanctuary of the United States d/b/a The Wild AnimalOrphanageDear Dr. Robert Gibbens, D.V.M.:

    I respectfully request the immediate inspection of the Wild Animal OrphanagesTalley Road facility under the Animal Welfare Act.Attached to this letter is a Contract of Release signed by Teresa Johns, AnimalAdoptions, Ltd, and Norma Lagutchik, representing the Wild Animal Orphanage.This is a standard contact an individual signs when turning over animals to theWild Animal Orphanage. This contract was signed on March 2, 2005.The following is the whereabouts of where I believe the animals, signed over tothe Wild Animal Orphanage, are currently located: Sabu the lion is located at

    Leslie Road. Zeus and Kimba, I believe are dead. I have no idea where Tony Tis located. Sha-nay-nay is located at Talley Road. At least two of the wolvesmay be dead and the other wolves were taken to Talley Road, where I believethey may have died I believe they were thrown into an existing pack and thepack killed the new wolves.This contract of release proves the Talley and Leslie Road facilities are not twoseparate entities.Ms. Asvestas uses photographs of animals located at Talley Road in herbrochures and on the Wild Animal Orphanage internet site Ms. Asvestas also

    allowed the Growing Up Lion documentary crew on the Talley Road facility andI have reason to believe she plans to allow another documentary crew film theanimals again at both locations sometime next month. Several television crewswere also allowed on the property to film new arrivals. Each time, Ms. Asvestasrequested funds to cover the cost of larger new enclosures, food, and in somecases, medical care. I believe these photographs and media coverage fallsunder the category of exhibition since Ms. Asvestas uses them to promote herorganization in an effort to raise funds to assist in the animals upkeep.

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    Needless to say, laws and regulations cannot specifically address all possiblecircumstances, so the Animal Welfare Act and regulations do not state that theappearance of the animals in a news program or internet constitute exhibition.However, the Act and regulations do provide a definition of exhibition. This

    definition is in the Section2 (h) of the Act and Section 1.1 (alphabetically) of theregulation.The compensation referred to the definition of exhibitor would includedonations to assist in the animals upkeep. The news programs, internet, andbrochures specifically address the need for money to maintain all the animals.Therefore, the USDA/APHIS does have the authority to immediately inspect theTalley Road facility.I strongly request that the USDA/APHIS inspect the Wild Animal OrphanagesTalley Road facility, located at 3511 Talley Road, San Antonio, Texas,

    immediately. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.Very Respectfully,Kristina M. Brunner(210) 647-1789Attached:The Wild Animal Orphanage Contract of Release dated 3/3/05