Glouco probes alleged animal abuse at DREAM Park event
Gloucester County officials are investigating allegations of what an animal-rights group says was animal abuse at a recent rodeo event at the county's DREAM Park in Logan Township.
Gloucester County officials are investigating allegations of what an animal-rights group says was animal abuse at a recent rodeo event at the county's DREAM Park in Logan Township.
The group, Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), posted a video online Monday depicting bulls foaming at the mouth and one collapsing on the floor, allegedly during the May 17 bull riding and dance festival called Rancho San Isidro.
"The animal cruelty was a little overwhelming," said Stuart Chaifetz, 47, an investigator for SHARK, who said he recorded several hours of the daylong event. One bull is seen being repeatedly poked with an electric prod during the group's nearly four-minute video.
Chaifetz said he saw workers drinking alcohol, one consuming a beer while holding an electric prod. "If I hadn't been there filming, no one would have seen these horrors going on," he said.
DREAM Park, an equestrian center that opened in 2008, is owned and operated by the Gloucester County Improvement Authority. The park facilities director, Florence Ale, said in a statement Wednesday that the park had suspended future events for the rodeo.
"There has never before been an allegation or incident of abuse issued against the DREAM Park since it opened," Ale's statement said. "Although it would have been helpful if the SHARK group had not waited two weeks to bring this issue to our attention, the DREAM Park and its staff appreciate the work they have done on behalf of the animals.
"If anyone sees abuse happening, it should be immediately brought to the attention of authorities," the statement added.
SHARK is asking the county to pursue possible animal-abuse charges against organizers of the event and permanently ban them from the facility.
A flier for the event lists Rodeo Tierra Caliente as presenting the event. Miguel Guzman, president of Rodeo Tierra Caliente, said Wednesday that he was not aware of a video apparently depicting animal abuse at a rodeo hosted by his group and said the group did not abuse animals.
"Why would we hurt the animals, which are very expensive?" he said. "That makes no sense."
Rancho San Isidro was scheduled to be at the park again this month and in July, according to DREAM Park's online event calendar.
In a letter to SHARK provided by the group, Ale said she had been on-site for all Rancho San Isidro events since they began in January 2013, but was not present May 17. She said staff at that day's event did not witness abuse.
"As for the video that was posted on YouTube, I see that a cattle prod was used, and we as the staff at the DREAM Park would never tolerate such cruel conditions," she wrote, according to the letter provided by SHARK.
Chaifetz said he planned to deliver DVDs with further footage from the event and letters to county freeholder offices Thursday. The Freeholder Board also released a statement Wednesday, calling the allegations "disturbing" and saying it had confidence Ale would handle the matter appropriately.
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