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Here is a caption you can use: Last week Miami Dade county issued a notice to evict the Dolphin Company, who currently owns Miami Seaquarium after multiple USDA violations, animal welfare concerns and failures to uphold their end of the lease contract. But the Dolphin Company responded saying “the Seaquarium took immediate steps to correct all noncompliances listed in the Inspection Reports.” They said “the County is usurping the exclusive legal authority of the United States Department of Agriculture… and… the exclusive legal authority of the Florida Wildlife Commission.” But The fact that The Dolphin Company currently employs more attorneys to fight this eviction than veterinarians to actually care for the animals, speaks volumes. In fact, the county can still enforce the terms of their contract, as well as Florida’s animal cruelty laws. The existence of federal regulations, does not change that. The July 17, 2023 USDA report stated there should be three veterinarians and four technicians. But Now the Dolphin Company has only 1 veterinarian covering the Miami Seaquarium, the Marineland facility in St Augustine, and Dolphin Connection in the Florida Keys. I just visited the Miami Seaquarium and witnessed animals being deprived of sufficient shelter and sustenance in violation of Florida’s animal cruelty laws. Marine animals cannot escape the aquatic environment they are confined in, and I witnessed animals in the reef tank suffering from the effects of poor water quality which also compromises their ability to exchange oxygen and obtain the nutrients they need. I saw fish with scarred and cloudy eyes, inappropriate, and barren housing for a number of pinnipeds, and bubbling and peeling paint in the Penguin enclosure, as well as dolphins confined to tanks too small for them to exhibit their natural species specific behaviors (folder of all documented footage obtained yesterday). The County can take immediate action under Florida Statute 828.122 which provides that when a court finds probable cause for abuse of any animal the court shall order the confiscation of the animal. Under 828.073 any law enforcement officer, or animal control officer can take custody of those animals. Because of all these problems, the Miami Seaquarium lost their American Humane Certification and is no longer on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Pathways program to accreditation. We hope that the County stops the cycle of leasing to for-profit zoos, and the facility can be transferred to a nature preserve, research or rehabilitation facility for sea turtles, manatees and other marine animals. @World Animal Protection 🌎 @PETA @hope_peddler @Our Honor @UnChainedTV @Dr Evan Antin @Dr. Shiloh, DVM @Dr. Ernie Ward @Dr Sue Cancer Vet