FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2017
Contact:
Mindy Patterson
P: 855-748-4210
E: cavalrygroup@mail.com
DeYoung Family Zoo Stands Up to PETA
Western Michigan
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In response to the People for The Et
hical Treatment of Animals'
(PETA) threats to sue the DeYoung Family Zoo last fall, Harold DeYoung, owner and operator of the zoo, beat PETA at their own game and filed a lawsuit against them for declaratory and injunctive relief and defamation in December 2016.
Kurtis B. Reeg, St. Louis, Managing Partner of Goldberg Segalla, and Lynn A. Lehnert, of Goldberg Segalla, attorneys representing The Cavalry Group member, Harold DeYoung, filed the
lawsuit in response to PETA's false claims that the zoo's possession of chimpanzees is in
violation of the Federal Endangered Species Act.
In response o
n March 24, 2017, PETA's lawyers announced
the withdrawal of their notice of intent to sue, confirming they would not be pursing their lawsuit against DeYoung.
Mark Patterson, CEO of The Cavalry Group, LLC stated
, "PETA's false allegations against the
DeYoung family zoo were nothing more than a fundraiser for this deceptively named animal rights group. Their false claims are rooted in emotionally based propaganda instead of science and facts, and was an attempt to destroy this upstanding and law abiding business which does not align with
PETA's animal rights ideology."
PETA's mission
includes working to eliminate private ownership of exotic animals, and claims
the DeYoung's chimps would be better o
ff living out their lives in a so-called animal sanctuary
of PETA's
choosing. Such facilities are typically run by like animal rightists who know little about proper care and treatment of chimpanzees.
The DeYoung Family Zoo is committed to fight back against any and all false claims by activist groups and this win has them looking forward to re-opening their zoo this spring to carry on their long standing tradition of educating the public about animals and the importance of conservation efforts to protect species from around the world.
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