OSPCA surprise inspection at Marineland

From the Niagara Falls Review: Marineland says investigators with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found no signs of abuse or neglect during a surprise visit on Wednesday The Niagara Falls attraction, in a statement released Thursday, said the inspection further confirms the park’s “total innocence to all allegations made by…

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Marineland charged with five counts of animal cruelty

From the Globe and Mail: Ontario’s animal welfare agency laid five animal cruelty charges against Marineland on Friday, levelling allegations of mistreatment that were swiftly rejected by the amusement park. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the charges against the Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction relate to peacocks, guinea hens…

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How Marineland Is Using the Law to Silence Protestors

From the Huffington Post: Even if you don’t care about beluga whales or how animals are treated in captivity, you may still be interested in what’s happening at Marineland. In this age of widespread protest — from the Occupy Movement to the Québec student protests to the Arab Spring — Marineland reminds us that it…

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NPC probe finds no criminal activity

From Niagara This Week: A year-long investigation by two law enforcement agencies into activities of the Niagara Parks Commission has failed to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing. The joint forces investigation by the Niagara Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police was launched in the fall of 2011 as a result of public complaints….

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Marineland: Killer whale bleeding for months, trainer says

From the Toronto Star: Kiska, the killer whale, swims alone in her pool at Marineland, often followed by a trail of her own blood. Her tail has been bleeding off and on since July but has been getting progressively worse, according to Christine Santos, who has been one of Kiska’s primary trainers. She described the…

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Singer who sang Marineland jingle says she’s ‘shocked’ by allegations of animal neglect at Marineland

From Bullet News Niagara: Juno Award-nominated singer Suzie McNeil, who sang the catchy jingle used in the familiar Marineland commercials, says she’s “shocked” by the allegations of animal neglect as made public in an investigative series published Wednesday and Thursday in The Toronto Star. In a statement sent to Bullet News by her publicist, McNeil…

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Marineland to go back under the microscope

From 97.7 HTZ-FM: Marineland is getting a 2nd look from an industry watchdog. Inspectors with the Canadian Association of Zoos & Aquariums & the OSPCA will take a tour of the Niagara Falls amusement park. This comes after public allegations from ex-trainers that Marineland’s animals are being mistreated. CAZA’s National Director says if their team…

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Mayor defends Marineland amid allegations

From the Niagara Falls Review: …In a story published in a Toronto newspaper Wednesday, Demers said the poor conditions and a lack of action by park owner John Holer is what made him quit – and subsequently break a non-disclosure agreement by going public. The public reaction to the report has been significant, with Marineland…

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NPC says it followed the rules for carousel deal

From the Niagara Falls Review: They won’t say how much it cost for the six-week rental of a carousel ride, but the Niagara Parks Commission says the proper bidding process was followed. The Victorian Candy Lane carousel opened Saturday at Queen Victoria Place and the NPC says more than 700 rides were taken on the…

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OPP investigating NPC procurement

From Niagara This Week: The Ontario Provincial Police is investigating allegations of procurement wrongdoing at the Niagara Parks Commission. Bullet News has learned the Parks Commission’s own Niagara Parks Police requested the OPP look into the assertions in an attempt to ‘clear the air.’ Parks Police Chief Doug Kane confirmed he ‘recently’ made the call…

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