Surprise SPCA inspection turned up ‘no signs of abuse,’ Marineland says

NIAGARA FALLS — A surprise inspection by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals turned up “no signs of abuse, distress, mistreatment, or neglect of any animals in Marineland’s care including black bears, elk, red deer, fallow deer, or guinea hens,” the park announced in a statement released Thursday.

But a spokesperson for the OSPCA said that is not entirely true.

“Contrary to what was stated by Marineland, the Ontario SPCA zoo inspectors found 11 items requiring action during our recent unannounced zoo inspection,” said Alison Cross, director of marketing and communications for the agency, said.

“Recommendations were made to address deficiency/concerns and administrative requirements.”

Veterinarians were required and the park had until Aug. 17 to report that these concerns had been addressed.

On Friday, Cross said it was confirmed the park is addressing the issues.

Marineland has been critical of the animal welfare agency, saying it had laid “a series of questionable charges against Marineland. Those charges were entirely withdrawn by the Crown attorney who did not believe any of them met the legal threshold to warrant a trial.”

The charges to which the park referred were 11 animal cruelty charges filed between November 2016 and January of this year concerning the health of peacocks, guinea hens, black bears, elk, red deer and fallow deer.

The Crown withdrew the charges at a court hearing in Niagara Falls on Aug. 10.

The park said the inspection result “confirms Marineland’s total innocence to all allegations.”