Mission: Mini ‘S’ Exotic Zoo Is a Nightmare for Animals—Help Them Today

Posted by Calvin on June 24, 2024

Animals deserve to enjoy freedom, spend time with their loved ones, and live in their natural homes. But in Mineola, Texas, a roadside zoo called Mini “S” Exotic Zoo is confining animals to cramped, filthy cages; denying them veterinary care; and letting them endure horrible deaths.

The conditions there were so dire that a former employee made the compassionate choice to alert PETA to the animal welfare problems, so PETA urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to inspect the shady facility. The agency gave Mini “S” Exotic Zoo an official warning for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act along with over a dozen citations, including a critical citation for allowing a marmoset to die by being electrocuted in a rodent trap. 😡

Several animals were also left to suffer from health issues without getting veterinary care, such as a South African springhare with severe hair loss and wobbly rear legs. The ex-employee says that the owner, Michelle Smith, often put off veterinary care and euthanasia or didn’t contact the veterinarian at all, causing the animals even more pain.

USDA inspectors found marmoset and tamarin monkeys confined to tiny cages measuring only 2 feet square. These monkeys would naturally spend their days leaping from tree to tree in a Brazilian forest, but Smith’s decision to keep them confined this way restricts their normal behavior and can cause them stress and injury. 😢

Mini “S” Exotic Zoo forces wild animals into stressful public encounters that put everyone in danger just so Smith can make a profit. These animals are made miserable by being held in cramped enclosures, denied basic medical treatment, and held back from getting what they need. We can’t let this slide.

What Can You Do to Help?

1. Please write a polite e-mail to the owner of Mini “S” Exotic Zoo urging them to transfer the animals to respected facilities where they could finally get desperately needed care. Feel free to use this sample message, but remember that using your own words is always more effective.

Suggested letter subject line:

Please do the right thing for animals

Suggested letter content:

I’m writing to urge you to retire the animals at Mini “S” Exotic Zoo to reputable facilities immediately.

I was appalled to learn that a marmoset died after being electrocuted in a rodent trap and that animals are often denied much-needed veterinary care. Your lengthy history of U.S. Department of Agriculture citations demonstrates that you are unable to provide the animals at your facility with even basic care. You also put the public and animals in danger of being injured by allowing encounters with wild animals, which are stressful to the animals involved.

Please immediately transfer all the animals at Mini “S” Exotic Zoo to reputable facilities where they could receive the high-quality care they desperately need and deserve.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Name

2. Send your e-mail to [email protected], and take a screenshot of it.

3. Make sure you’re signed in to your peta2 Rewards account, and submit the screenshot of your e-mail below for 15 peta2 points. (Heads-up: You’ll only be awarded points for taking this action once.)