Behind the doors of a strip mall in Tacoma, Washington, animals are suffering in heartbreaking conditions at Debbie Dolittle’s Indoor Petting Zoo. These animals—including capybaras, kangaroos, wallabies, porcupines, and others—live in cramped, unsafe enclosures with little enrichment or access to the natural environments they desperately need.

Federal inspectors with the USDA have cited the zoo for housing animals in enclosures so poorly maintained they put their safety at risk. Capybaras, semi-aquatic animals who need to swim daily to stay healthy, were found with scabs and skin irritation due to the lack of adequate water access. A lone indoor tub and a dangerously steep outdoor ramp were all they had.

This isn’t a one-time issue. Under past ownership, Animal Control documented the deaths of at least 17 animals in just three years—including a sloth who fell to her death and baby otters who died from cold and neglect. A fox had her leg amputated after an accident. And more than 80 people were reportedly injured during animal encounters. The USDA even fined the facility $7,500 for these violations, but the suffering continues.

Despite changing ownership twice, the zoo continues to operate with ties to its troubled past. And now the latest violations show that even with new management, the animals are still paying the price.

Enough is enough. We call on Tacoma city leaders and the Washington Department of Agriculture to immediately revoke Debbie Dolittle’s business license and ensure all animals are transferred to legitimate, accredited sanctuaries. These animals don’t belong behind glass or on hard concrete, they belong in spaces where they can heal, roam, swim, and simply live.

Every day this facility remains open, animals endure preventable suffering. It’s time to take a stand for the voiceless. Please sign and share this petition to shut down Debbie Dolittle’s Indoor Petting Zoo—because no animal deserves a life like this.

Photo: PETA