PETA continues to take aim at local The Camel Farm

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals continue to take aim at The Camel Farm in Yuma.

PETA sent a complaint Wednesday morning calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate The Camel Farm and hold it accountable for any violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

PETA cites a visitor to the roadside farm, that’s a subject to a federal lawsuit filed by PETA, took photos and video footage of “flies swarming around a camel’s face and eyes as well as a large growth on the animal’s chest,” according to the press release.

The eyewitness also reported several animals were panting in 108-degree weather, trying to find shade. They also report that broken-down enclosures put animals at risk of injury.

“No reputable animal-care facility would fail to provide adequate veterinary care for a fly-covered growth on a camel’s chest for over a year, let alone leave animals to pant and hunt for shade in 100-degree heat,” says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet. “The Camel Farm should move these animals to reputable sanctuaries where they’d receive the care that they need.”

The USDA has cited The Camel Farm repeatedly for failing to provide the camel with the chest growth with adequate veterinary care.

PETA filed a lawsuit that challenges the USDA’s automatic renewal of Animal Welfare Act licenses to a facility such as The Camel Farm.

The AWA prohibits licensing a facility that can’t demonstrate that it’s operating in accordance with the act, but in the year before the USDA renewed The Camel Farm’s license, the facility was cited for 33 violations of the AWA.

PETA has also called on the Arizona Game and Fish Department to not renew The Camel Farm’s zoo license for it’s AWA violations.

When faced with the first of several allegations from PETA back in March, Cassandra Standley, the owner’s daughter said the allegations made by PETA are false and misleading.

“I live here and I help take care of my animals. I do know from what I’ve seen in the pictures that some of the pictures are taken at certain angles where you can’t see the shade structures. If you have questions you need to come and ask. You shouldn’t assume things,” Standley said.