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17
January 2006
Michael Jackson
Accused Of Animal Cruelty
Michael
Jackson
has been accused of animal cruelty by US
campaigners who are demanding an
investigation into conditions on his
Neverland ranch.
Pressure
group People
for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals
(Peta) has written to authorities asking
it to look into allegations of animal
neglect.
Peta
spokeswoman Lisa Wathne said she had seen
photos showing animals surrounded by pools
of urine.
Jackson,
who now lives in Bahrain, has not
commented on the allegations.
Giraffes,
elephants and crocodiles all live on the
California estate, which Jackson bought in
1988. At its height, it boasted a zoo,
fairground rides and a steam
railway.
"These
animals are in enclosures that are
completely barren," Ms Wathne said. "It
looks like a dilapidated roadside zoo. The
animals have no enrichment of any kind.
They are deprived of everything that's
natural to them."
She
added: "We have heard accusations that
employees aren't being paid and that
animals aren't being fed or that food is
only available on a day-to-day basis. We
have asked the United
States Department of
Agriculture
to investigate, and if they determine the
animals are not being cared for properly,
to confiscate the animals and release them
to accredited sanctuaries."
The
charity said it did not expect to hear
from the department for some months,
although there was a possibility it was
already investigating the
allegations.
It
emerged last week that Jackson is being
sued by a veterinarian in California for
alleged unpaid bills.
Jackson's
lawyer Brian Oxman said the singer did not
want to comment on the claims.
Meanwhile,
a company based in Bahrain has said it is
interested in offering Jackson a
consultancy role.
AAJ
Holdings, owned by Bahraini businessman
Ahmed Abu Bakr Janahi, said it wanted to
hire the 47-year-old to give advice on
setting up entertainment
businesses.
The firm
focuses on high-profile urban
developments.
"Stagnant
architectural structures need content in
the form of entertainment to revive them
and that's where Michael Jackson will play
an integral role," a statement
said.
Jackson's
spokeswoman Raymone Bain was not available
for comment.
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