Name: Commerford Petting Zoo protest (& other ways to take action) - 1/31 & 2/1, 12-2
Start: 2026-01-31T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-31T14:00:00-05:00
Location: DCU Center, Worcester, MA

$Commerford Petting Zoo protest (& other ways to take action) - 1\/31 & 2\/1, 12-2$

Hello Fellow Animal Advocates,
On January 31st and February 1st, 12-2, in conjunction with Positive Change for Animals, we will protest the Commerford Petting Zoo event being held at the DCU. Signs and literature will be provided, but feel free to bring your own signs.
Unfortunately, Commerford Petting Zoo will be returning to the DCU Center for their annual "Kids Fun Fair" (https://www.dcucenter.com/event/commerford-kids-fun-fair/232/) with their many animals, including camel and pony rides. Fortunately, Minnie, their sole surviving elephant, and their lemurs now cannot be there, thanks to The Circus Bill passing in 2024. But they still may have a zebra, oryx, and kangaroo.
Commerford has a LONG list of (over 50) Animal Welfare Act violations, incidents and accidents (https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CommerfordPettingZooFactsheet.pdf). And their elephant Beulah suffered and died at The Big E in 2019 due to their neglect and forcing her to be at The Big E when she was seriously ill.
Beulah died at The Big E in 2019 due to septicemia, that they were well aware of. Pictures of her showed her looking sickly and she collapsed on day three. She was just left there to die and carted off that night. Another elephant they owned, Karen, died in April 2019, due to kidney failure, yet they never reported her death to the USDA.
* Scroll down for details and other ways to take action!
* SIGNS WILL BE PROVIDED, but feel free to bring your own.
A very disturbing video from the 2019 Kids Fun Fair in Hartford sparked outrage and even got news coverage in Australia! See https://thewest.com.au/news/animals/kangaroo-locked-in-tiny-us-petting-zoo-cage-prompts-petition-to-bring-animal-home-ng-b881161952z?fbclid=IwY2xjawO2QOpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0MnNzWk9SdDZRMnJPYUcxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm8lc6d7bG_nF39pr2NJMKXLV6eriYSmrxOFmltKyHJtaFyHZx2TeA-Jz5VX_aem_CeBIDZAQgFiyhmMx0mIT0w
There is also footage that went viral of Minnie in horrible condition giving rides and a camel being abused from 2018, which sparked outrage. https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/viral-footage-of-suffering-elephant-camel-prompts-demand-to-big-e/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO2QGhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0MnNzWk9SdDZRMnJPYUcxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuf8ViUOAwUp4xlRp9MkYZTFtU1OBbFaoEUV0MEaaX7k_qTq82X3S4EdM2-F_aem_MEwTz4DrZL16EuSwzYKNHg
We must speak out for the many voiceless prisoners in this cruel zoo and turn people away, as we've done in the past at this event, or at least make them reconsider returning.
Commerford's animals are shipped (often long distances) from venue to venue like cargo all year long in cramped, isolated, and often filthy conditions. Many can't even entirely stretch their bodies when traveling. And some are from tropical climates.
According to the USDA Commerford Petting Zoo has been cited for "inadequate veterinary care, failure to maintain enclosures and transport trailers, failure to have an attendant present during periods of public contact, improper feeding, and poor housekeeping." Minnie has been involved in three dangerous incidents while giving rides to children, causing injuries. Their accidents and injuries are listed in their long list of Animal Welfare Act violations.
Commerford Petting Zoo is at the Big E every fall too for all 17 days with all their animals in tiny, confined spaces outside, and camel and pony rides.
WHERE: We'll meet near the main entrance to DCU Center (on sidewalk) - on corner of Major Taylor Blvd. and Foster St.
* Parking available on sidestreets right near protest site or in garage right across from St. Vincent Hospital (next to DCU Center). See here for parking info. - https://www.dcucenter.com/visitor-information/parking/
* Feel free to call or text me at 413-374-1921 if you can't find us
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:
1. Write the DCU Center - James Moughan Assistant General Manager/Director of Sales,
[email protected]. Politely ask them to no longer support such abuse and exploitation, and mention Commerford's horrendous record of AWA violations and accidents. Tell them you will not attend events at their venue until they stop hosting such cruelty.
2. Contact the Worcester City Council and Mayor (DCU Center is owned by the city), urging them to ban such cruelty at the DCU Center -
[email protected]
Contact a City Councilor | City of Worcester, MA -
https://www.worcesterma.gov/city.../contact-a-city-councilor
508-799-1049
Mayor John Petty
[email protected]
508-799-1153
3. Sign/share petitions!
* https://www.change.org/p/end-exploitative-animal-events-at-the-worcester-dcu
* https://www.change.org/p/free-the-commerford-elephants-send-beulah-karen-and-minnie-to-sanctuary?fbclid=IwY2xjawO2Qr5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0MnNzWk9SdDZRMnJPYUcxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHq4FdOsz-16fm9SpB3_9JOWfkSVAzQwtqAuZzfN_Lxr7vvpPdAvwKSHcfoC9_aem_AVHVYjKzB9qPPCMJqWpVXg (even though Beulah & Karen are gone, we can still use this petition to help free Minnie).
4. Share this and spread the word!!!
Thank you all so much for giving the animals a voice! 🐪🐾💕
Sheryl, Crysania & Karen