Dirk Arthur show at Harrah's cited for animal abuses

Laughlin, Nevada

Harrah's Laughlin, Dirk Arthur Wild Magic Show

The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited Dirk Arthur’s Wild Magic show for animal abuses.  Among charges were the declawing lions and tigers, keeping a snow leopard in a rusty cage and chaining a bobcat in a dangerous way.  The show has been a staple at Harrah’s casinos in Laughlin and Reno.  

A spokesman for Caesars Entertainment Corp., which owns the casinos, said the company is taking the matter seriously.  “As soon as we were made aware of the issues, we informed Dirk Arthur he must address and correct them, which he has been actively and diligently doing,” spokesman Gary Thompson said.

Failure to rectify the issues could result in a fine or criminal prosecution.

It did not take long for animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to call for a boycott of the show.   (PETA) issued the following news release:

Animal exhibitor Dirk Arthur received an Official Warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after being cited for several violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act--including the painful declawing of two tigers and a lion, which has been prohibited for nearly a decade. Today,PETA sent an urgent letter to Gary Loveman, president and CEO ofCaesars Entertainment, urging him to cancel Arthur's "Wild Magic" show featuring tigers and other exotic cats at Caesars-owned Harrah's inLaughlin and Reno. According to the USDA's inspection report, declawing can cause "considerable pain and discomfort to the animal and may result in chronic health problems."

"By keeping Dirk Arthur on, Caesars is giving its tacit stamp of approval to his abusing cats and exposing the public to danger," says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. "Arthur has shown contempt for animal-protection laws, so instead of handing him money, Caesars should hand him his walking papers."

PETA also points out that Caesars' partnership with Arthur is clearly inconsistent with the company's stated objective of "mak[ing] a positive overall contribution" and recognition of "the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment." The following are some of Arthur's other violations from December:

* Failing to protect a snow leopard from harm by confining the animal to a rusty and unsound enclosure

* Confining a bobcat with a dangling chain that became caught in the fencing of the enclosure, presenting "a clear hazard" to the animal

* Failing to utilize adequate barriers to protect the animals and the public

* Failing to provide the cats with sufficient space and denying them the required opportunity to exercise

----end of statement from PETA---

We have never seen the show so cannot comment but urge Caesars and Dirk Arthur to do the right thing and address these abuses.  Dirk Arthur wraps up a run at Harrah's Laughlin on March 9, 2014 and is currently scheduled to be in Reno March 27th - June 28.   Usually, he returns in the fall through the end of the year in Laughlin as well.  

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