Please refuse to support animal abuse by boycotting the R.W. Commerford & Sons Traveling Petting Zoo which is scheduled at the Champlain Valley Expo (CV Expo) in Essex Junction on February 27th and Feb 28th. 

The CV Expo has scheduled this "petting zoo," which is widely-condemned for animal neglect and cruelty, to bring in an array of exotic and domestic animals including Camels (for rides), Llamas, Goats, Zebras, Pygmy Goats, and Alpacas. The Commerford Zoo also keeps Elephants in captivity and often trucks them around to various states for entertainment, which is illegal in Vermont.

The Commerford Zoo has a long track record of health and safety violations and public endangerment. One incident involved “A Commerford employee [provoking] an elephant who was giving rides by striking her in the face, resulting in injuries to two people.”

Various websites list dozens of citations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a variety of abusive behaviors, such as denying animals proper veterinary care. Bob Commerford, the founder and owner of this petting zoo, has opposed legislation that would outlaw bullhooks and electric pokers as elephant training tools.

Please show your compassion by signing and sharing the following petition to urge organizers to refuse to host Commerford’s Petting Zoo. It is so important to let the CV Expo's president, Jeffrey L. Davis, know that people want to be entertained without causing animals to suffer.