18/01/2006 10:48:57 It's Official: Jackson Animals Not Mistreated!
Animals are not being mistreated at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, federal officials have concluded.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an inspector to the 2,600-acre ranch in Central California last month in response to a complaint from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA based its complaint on European tabloid reports that animals are being kept in substandard conditions.
"I'm unaware of any violations of the Animal Welfare Act at Neverland," Darby Holladay, a spokesman with the USDA in Washington, D.C., said Tuesday.
Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Jackson, welcomed the USDA's determination.
"That's very nice and we appreciate it," he said.
Lisa Wathne, PETA's captive exotic animals specialist, said the group did not try to confirm the tabloid reports before making its complaint.
"Because Neverland is not open to the public, it's very difficult to get information about the place. But when we hear accusations like that - and many accusations - we have to take note," she said.
Jackson's ranch has been home to elephants, giraffes, snakes, orangutans, tigers and a crocodile.
Wathne said PETA plans to file a similar complaint with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because African elephants and orangutans are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Source: Associated Press