Lagoon Corporation

USDA License #87-C-0002

375 N. Lagoon Dr., Farmington, UT  84025

 

Lagoon Corporation has failed to meet minimal federal standards for the care of animals used in exhibition as established in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Lagoon Corporation numerous times for failure to provide veterinary care to sick and dying animals, filthy enclosures, inadequately trained employees, and failure to provide animals with minimum space. Lagoon has had a high death rate and several unexplained deaths. Contact PETA for documentation.

 

Animals in recent inventory: a bear, a jaguar, 14 elk, 2 camels, 3 llamas, 3 cougars, a lion, 3 addax, 6 buffalo, 3 tigers, 22 fallow deer, 2 zebras, and a peccary.

 

July 6, 2001: In a letter to Lagoon, the USDA warned the zoo that keepers must make careful observations of newborns to ensure that they nurse. The zoo was encouraged to develop a more effective husbandry program for neonatal animals following the deaths of a newborn elk calf and a fallow deer fawn.

April 19, 2001: Lagoon was cited for failure to correct a previously identified violation of not maintaining records of acquisition and disposition. There were no records for 11 fallow deer who were no longer at Lagoon, two buffaloes who were sold to an individual for slaughter, as well as other animal transactions. The USDA also cited Lagoon for failure to provide elk with shelter from direct sunlight or inclement weather.

August 28, 2000: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to maintain records of acquisition and disposition for animals who died or were born during the year.

July 20, 2000: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. A buffalo cow underwent surgery on May 2, 2000, to remove a rubber band imbedded around a toe. The animal did not receive sufficient follow-up care. It was determined on June 1, 2000, that the infection was spreading up the leg, and the cow was euthanized. The inspector found outdated medication and dirty needles used for injections.

Lagoon was cited for improper handling. The public had access to animals without the presence of a trained employee.

The inspector noted that necropsy reports for a fallow deer who died and a stillborn elk were not available.

 

March 30, 2000: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to comply with its veterinary care program. The peccary had not received testing or treatment for parasites.

   

Lagoon was cited for failure to provide complete information for two recently purchased camels.

   

The inspector noted that a camel died on March 5, 2000, from peritonitis associated with a perforated ulcer and that the facility had not provided external training for its employees.

 

September 16, 1999: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to provide the inspector with documentation addressing the problem of inadequately trained employees.

 

August 2, 1999: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to correct previously identified violations concerning lack of veterinary care and inadequately trained employees. A camel exhibiting sweatiness and labored breathing was down for 12 hours and never received veterinary care. The camel died of peritonitis subsequent to a perforation in the digestive tract.

   

Several elk remain thin with protruding ribs. Nutritional supplements prescribed by the veterinarian were not being fed to the animals.

 

June 29-30, 1999: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to correct previously identified violations concerning lack of veterinary care, filthy enclosures, and inadequately trained employees.

   

A newborn fallow deer was never observed nursing and died 37 to 38 hours later. Several elk remained thin, with protruding ribs and hair loss. There was no record of deworming, routine tests for intestinal parasites, or vaccinations for the elk. The sheep enclosure had a high concentration of feces. The inspector directed Lagoon to conduct necropsies on any subsequent deaths to “facilitate herd management and to assure adequate veterinary care.”

 

May 12, 1999: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to correct previously identified violations concerning inadequate veterinary care. The male lion, Rhondo, died on April 18, 1999. A necropsy found complete bowel blockage. Rhondo had suffered from vomiting, weakness, not swallowing medications, shallow breathing, sticky feces, nasal discharge, thick, dry lips, and a dry, matted coat. Employees failed to recognize the severity of the lion’s condition or accurately communicate his symptoms to the veterinarian. Failure to have adequately trained employees and a procedure to obtain emergency veterinary care contributed to the lion’s death.

 

April 8, 1999: The male lion identified as needing veterinary care during an April 2, 1999, inspection was suffering from anemia, arthritis, and abnormal kidney function.

Lagoon was cited for repeatedly failing to develop a veterinary care plan to address deficient capture and anesthesia procedures and the poor health status of elk.

 

April 2, 1999: The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to correct previously identified violations concerning inadequate veterinary care, improper feeding, and filthy enclosures. Lagoon failed to develop a veterinary care plan addressing deficient capture and anesthesia procedures and the poor health status of elk.

Lagoon was cited for failure to provide veterinary care to a lion. The inspector wrote, “Rhondo was thin to the point that the ribs and hip bones were prominent. He was weak and had difficulty walking or even standing. … He was observed retching for a period of time and then vomited at least a cup of yellow-green fluid. … His tongue appeared pale. There were no [records] indicating that the animal’s deteriorating condition has been noticed.”

The inspector also noted that dead animal disposal must comply with all applicable regulations.

 

February 8, 1999:  The USDA cited Lagoon for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. Four fallow deer died due to anesthetics or poor darting techniques during tranquilizer use. The facility had outdated medication. Seven elk in “a very small pen” appeared thin, with rough hair coats. The inspector recommended routine necropsies due to a high death rate and unexplained deaths.

   

Lagoon was cited for feeding moldy hay, which may contain toxins, to camels, sheep, and deer and placing a mineral block on the ground where there was fecal contamination.

Lagoon was cited a fourth time for failure to provide sufficient space for seven elk. A zebra and her 7-month-old baby and 16 Corsican sheep also did not have adequate space.

Lagoon was cited a fifth time for filthy enclosures. The inspector wrote, “Excessively soiled bedding has been a chronic problem at this facility.”

 

October 16, 1997: The USDA cited Lagoon for inadequate drainage that caused elk to “stand in muck” while eating, enclosures that were filthy with an excessive accumulation of waste, and failure to record the death of a cougar in its disposition records.