Federal government cites NC exotic zoo over its animal care

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina exotic animal park has been accused of failing to provide proper care for several animals.

The Statesville Record & Landmark reported Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed an administrative complaint last month citing the owner of Lazy 5 Ranch in Rowan County. The park’s owner, Henry Hampton, was cited with more than 50 violations of the Animal Welfare Act between 13 at Lazy 5 Ranch and 44 at The Farm at Walnut Creek, another zoo Hampton owns in Ohio.

Violations observed from 2015 through 2017 at Lazy 5 also included failing to have an employee present when visitors fed animals.

Lazy 5 didn’t respond to the newspaper for comment.

The complaint was released following a Freedom of Information Act request from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.