Notorious Animal Abuser Jason Clay Faces Calls to Have His Exhibitor License Revoked

Animal welfare concerns have resurfaced as the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) presses for action against Jason Clay, a Texas-based exhibitor operating under the names Franklin Drive Thru Safari and East Texas Zoo & Gator Park. The ALDF submitted a formal complaint urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate Clay and potentially revoke or refuse to renew his Animal Welfare Act (AWA) exhibitor license.

The urgency behind this call to action stems from Clay’s recent guilty plea to violating the Endangered Species Act by illegally transporting an endangered juvenile chimpanzee across state lines. This incident underscores a troubling pattern of disregard for animal welfare regulations.

In the past two years alone, Clay’s facilities have been flagged for multiple AWA violations across four separate inspections. These infractions range from failure to provide adequate potable water to neglecting proper veterinary care, resulting in the deaths of several animals including a pygmy hippo and a giraffe. Structural integrity issues in enclosures and inadequate pest control measures further compound the risks faced by the animals under Clay’s care.

This isn’t the first time the ALDF has raised concerns about Clay’s operations. In January 2022, they filed their initial complaint with the USDA, followed by another complaint in December of the same year. Additionally, in April 2022, the ALDF alerted the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to ongoing workplace safety violations at Clay’s facilities, prompted by an animal attack resulting in substantial injuries to an employee.

Michael Swistara, a Litigation Fellow at the ALDF, emphasizes the severity of the situation, stating, “Jason Clay has made it clear he is incapable of providing animals the bare minimum of care required by the law.” Swistara underscores the urgency of the matter, urging the USDA to revoke Clay’s license immediately to prevent further harm to the animals.

Speak Up Tee By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Animal Legal Defense Fund Releases 2023 State Animal Protection Law Rankings
• Mongolia Passes a Comprehensive Law for Animal Companions
• Canadian Court Upholds Convictions for Animal Rights Activists
• Animal Law Updates: 2023’s Biggest News and Trends for Animals in Court
• Complaint Filed with the USDA Regarding Notorious Texas Zoo Owner

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!