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Animal Haven Zoo in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, has been cited with three more violations of the Animal Welfare Act based on a January 24, 2022, U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection.
The inspector found two rabbits whose ears were crusty and scabby, which zoo owners Jim and Dawn Hofferber were not aware of until the inspector pointed it out. The rabbits had not received veterinary attention. The inspection report notes that Animal Haven Zoo called the veterinarian during the inspection.
An enclosure housing three juvenile tigers had a 12 inch wide by 6 inch tall hole that had sharp points on both the sides and the top. The inspector noted that the hole was due to a water dish that was moved to another location during the winter, however, the inspector wrote in the report that the facility is required to keep their enclosures properly maintained, structurally sound and free from sharp points and fencing holes and gaps.
The inspector found that an enclosure housing four aoudad, also called barbary sheep, contained a shelter that was not accessible to the three female aoudad because the male aoudad was lying in front of the shelter which prevented entrance.
“In inclement weather lack of an additional shelter would not protect the three females if the male decides not to permit them into the shelter,” the inspector documented in her report.
The three new USDA violations add to a growing body of evidence that the Hofferbers are incapable of operating their roadside zoo without violating state and federal law.
In June, the USDA cited Animal Haven Zoo for allowing a high school student to take a three-week-old tiger cub to a classroom and let children pet it.
Animal Haven Zoo was also cited for failing to keep complete disposition records for two tiger cubs that were born in April 2021 and were no longer at the facility. The cubs had been sent to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bend, Wisconsin, when they were only 14 days old. USDA regulations indicate that neonatal nondomestic cats must be at least 28 days old to be transported, because of their special handling and husbandry needs.
An August USDA inspection revealed animals at Animal Haven Zoo were left with untreated medical conditions and some of the animals were living in filthy cages. The inspector documented numerous animal enclosures that were in need of repair. The inspector also found a liger that had went without water for 20 hours. When provided with water, the inspector noted the liger continued to drink for more than four minutes.
A November inspection revealed more sick animals and enclosures that were in need of repair.
The USDA has cited Animal Haven Zoo with a total of 14 violations of the Animal Welfare Act in the past seven months, including four direct violations and one critical violation.
Animal Haven Zoo January 2022 USDA Inspection Report: