The City of Frankfort Parks Department released a statement regarding the recent USDA inspection report that resulted from a Dec. 11, 2024, inspection, stating that the violations are being addressed.
The City of Frankfort Parks Department is a licensed and certified Class C – Exhibitor with the USDA, and in 2024, the TPA Park Zoo and Aviary had been inspected four times following its receipt of violations in November 2023. The USDA visited and inspected the TPA Park Aviary and Zoo in January 2024 with no violations, April 2024 with no violations, July 2024 with no violations and Dec. 11, 2024 with eight violations. According to the City, during the July 2024 visit, the USDA recertified and relicensed the aviary and zoo for the next three years. From the July visit to the December visit, the USDA report stated that inventory changed from 32 zebra finches to 19, 27 lovebirds to 17 and 77 parakeets to 22. In total, the USDA reported that the inventory of the small avian species was reduced from 136 to 58, marking a 57% reduction in inventory of the small avian species between the two inspections. The City released that the USDA did not begin inspecting the birds until fall 2023 when the APHIS published its final ruling that established new welfare standards for birds under the Animal Welfare Act.
Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets released a statement regarding the report and the eight violations received by the Parks Department following the December 2024 inspection.
“We acknowledge and understand the significance of each violation, and I have been working with Joel (Tatum), our Parks Superintendent on addressing and identifying the issues,” Sheets wrote. “We are reviewing our policies and procedures when they accept new birds and animals either from donations or when they purchase an animal or bird. We are also reviewing our procedures for when a bird dies or is found dead.”
Sheets’ statement addressed the claim made in the USDA report that when the inspectors asked about the inventory reduction, “establishment employees stated that they sometime find birds dead from unknown causes (sic).” The report further stated that no other explanation for the loss of inventory was provided with no records available or provided to show the reduction was due to the sale or donation of the bird species. The report also stated that no veterinary exams or necropsies were performed to determine the cause of death of the dead birds.
“We understand the gravity of this situation and are just as concerned about the violations as the community is,” Sheets wrote.
The City further stated that several of the violations have already been addressed, including the violation for Standard Vet Care that was cited because a form was not located in the file when the USDA inspector arrived for the December inspection. The City stated that the Parks Department has retained the same veterinary care for over 15 years at Wayside Veterinary Clinic in Rossville and the Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic in Indianapolis. According to the City, the Parks Department spent $3,865.60 at Wayside Clinic and $8,581.65 at Avian and Exotic Clinic. The Parks Department reportedly also spent an additional $1,290.77 on emergency vet care at Purdue University Animal Hospital.
The City stated that the Standard of Vet Care form has been properly placed in the file that details the relationship between the Parks Department and the clinics to address the violation.
Tatum provided details on the violation for the inventory of birds, which the report from USDA claimed that “the health and well-being of 78 birds over an approximately 5-month period was adversely impacted, resulting in their death.” The report continued to state that a robust program to determine the reason for the loss of animals was not in place, stating that the loss of animals “could stem from underlying herd/flock health issues, poor husbandry practices or facility problems.”
Tatum stated that due to the difficulty in counting small avian species once released in the aviary, the USDA only counts the birds before they are released in May and when they are returned to their enclosed habitats during the winter months. Tatum stated during the citation period, 40 small birds were donated to the TPA Park Aviary from a single residence, and due to the current protocol, all birds and animals are required to quarantine for a month before being released to the general population. Tatum stated that out of the 40 birds that were added to the inventory, 23 of the birds died due to prior illness but were still included in the initial tally.
The City further outlined the incident that occurred on June 9 when Frankfort Parks employees noticed that nine large birds were missing and a hole had been cut in the side of the aviary. The theft remains as an on-going investigation with the department.
“At the time, it was difficult to tell if any of the smaller birds escaped during the theft,” Tatum wrote. “We have 35 small avian species that remain unaccounted for, meaning we don’t have a body or a record of death for them.”
Tatum continued to comment about the standards of care that the zookeepers and Parks staff exercise with the petting zoo to ensure that the animals receive the care they need.
“My team and I are deeply committed to providing the highest level of care for all the animals at our petting zoo and aviary,” Tatum wrote. “We prioritize their health and well-being through regular veterinary visits with both of our trusted veterinarians in addition to conducting daily health checks. Each animals is cared for with the same love and attention as if they are our own, ensuring they thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.”
The City continued to address the violation for facilities and zookeeper routines, which have reportedly been and are continuing to be investigated by the City to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals and birds as well as the Parks staff and hundreds of visitors that visit the aviary and petting zoo every year. The City stated that the investigation includes but is not limited to a detailed review of all animal care protocols, staff training procedures and facility maintenance practices.
The violations outlined by the USDA included two aspects of the attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care that the Parks Department addressed in their statement.
As well, the USDA outlined contingency planning where “facility personnel were not able to provide a documented contingency plan for the facility,” which the USDA stated may fail to ensure that all the animals receive the appropriate protection and care in the event of an emergency. The USDA stated that the Parks Department must develop, document and follow an appropriate plan for the humane handling, treatment, transportation and care of the animals in the event of an emergency or disaster, and the plan was set to be corrected by Dec. 17, 2024.
The USDA violations also included the twilight exhibit enclosure that houses three foxes, claiming that the enclosure was not maintained to protect the animals from injury or contain them. The report stated that an approximately two-foot by four-foot area existed inside the enclosure and at the north end of the exhibit where no dig barrier was present, and the report further stated that two tunnels were dug in the area without the dig barrier that measured around eight inches in diameter. With the report claiming that the dig barrier was exposed over 25% of the enclosure floor, the foxes could potentially escape or entrap or injure themselves, according to the USDA. The violation was set to be corrected by Dec. 17, 2024.
Furthermore, the report addressed the twilight exhibit closure reportedly not having adequate protection with a perimeter fence, stating that the south and east sides of the enclosure were only protected by a wire public barrier fence measuring 44 inches in height, which the investigator reported does not ensure that visitors or other animals could not enter the enclosure, causing the possibility of disease, injury or escape to rise. The USDA ordered that the enclosure must have a perimeter fence of sufficient height, six feet, before Feb. 14.
The USDA also stated that the cooler utilized to store fruits and vegetables for the animals was not maintained to protect the supplies from deterioration, and at the time of inspection, “there was an accumulation of tree leaves, molded vegetable materials (including a molded corn cob husk) and other debris on the cooler floor, below the shelving units.” The USDA report claimed that the molded materials and debris could contaminate stored food. The violation was set to be corrected by Dec. 17, 2024.
The USDA also issued a violation due to the inspector’s observation of three chickens outside of their primary enclosure, stating that it appeared that the chickens were able to leave the enclosure by passing under the gate. The USDA stated that the birds being outside of their enclosure were exposed to increased risk of predation and injury while also possibly having restrictions in their access to food, water and shelter. The violation was set be corrected by Jan. 13.
The final violation was issued under the regulation of “environment enhancement to promote psychological well-being,” which the inspector stated that the Parks Department’s “Foraging and Enrichment Program” did not address the needs of all the non-psittacine birds housed at the facility. The report stated that provisions for the social need of birds known to exist in social groups in nature, means of enriching the physical environment of the enclosure, special considerations for environment enhancement for groups and individuals requiring additional instruction from the attending veterinarian and considerations regarding the use of restraint devices were not fully addressed.
The report stated that without a documented enrichment plan implemented under the direction of the attending veterinarian, the “birds are at risk of stress, discomfort and the development of harmful behaviors.” The violation was set to be corrected by Feb. 14.
The City concluded its statement regarding the report by reiterating that the violations have been or are continuing to be addressed and ensuring the community that the staff at the Parks Department will continue dedicating themselves to the well-being of the animals at the aviary and zoo.
“We are committed to implementing the necessary changes to ensure the highest standards of animal care at the TPA Park Aviary and Zoo,” the City released. “We will address each of the violations to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act.”
The City stated that regular updates will be provided to the public as the investigation and corrective actions progress.
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