The Life and Death of Tyke - The USDA

The USDA Under its Secretary, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the responsibility of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and yet it fails to do this and its behaviour is little more than farcical on occasions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the only federal law that protects animals used for entertainment, has failed to protect those animals. The following is a small sample of articles that deal with the USDA's feeble response to the protection of animals and its failings in this respect. The articles cover a wide range of subjects that testify to the USDA's overall poor handling of different issues related to animal welfare. Indeed, the 'U' in its name would be better suited for 'Useless'.   How the USDA is failing America’s captive elephants   Summary of USDA Permit Citations for circuses with elephants performing in Tennessee 2000 to 2003   Beheaded cat, maimed goat spark scrutiny of research labs   Government admits USDA does not enforce laws on puppy millers   Industry watchdog "Dumbfounded" by USDA's failure to enforce organic law   Circuses - Citations (and other problems)   'PETA files federal lawsuit against USDA over treatment of captive bears ', Smoky Mountain News, 6 November 2013   Judge wings USDA over bird abuse   USDA failure may have helped cause salmonella egg outbreak   Want a lifetime pass to abuse animals? Get a USDA exhibitor's license   Why Did the USDA Delete Thousands of Animal Abuse Records From Its Website?   USDA Refuses to Hold Laboratories to Account, Failing Animals and Science   USDA Shuts Down Portal to Records on Animal Abuse   The Betrayal of Animal Protection - The Corruption of the USDA   New Law Review article condemns USDA's animal welfare act failures   New Law Review Article Condemns USDA’s Animal Welfare Act Failures   USDA Sued for Covering Up Animal-Welfare Violations   The Animal Legal Defense Fund has launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture   As reported, there was yet another escape by an elephant in America as recently in April 2024. On this occasion, the elderly Viola in Butte, Montana [who had escaped on two previous occasions]. As noted, this "outraged many, including officials with PETA." The USDA merely cited the owners, Carson & Barnes Circus, which has already been cited over 100 times. PETA commented that the USDA "has been inconsistent with its rulings and the citation is at the bottom layer of an enforcement punishment. 'It can essentially be seen as a slap on the wrist'." Two articles by Peta on the matter are 'Video: Local circus forces geriatric elephants to perform' and 'PETA statement: Elephant escaped from Jordan World Circus'.