JAMESTOWN, Pa. - PETA is planning to file a lawsuit against Pymatuning Deer Park as the zoo deals with the aftermath of a fire that claimed the lives of two of its animals.  

Greenville Fire Department said the fire began just after 11 p.m. Monday at the park on E. Jamestown Road. 

Pymatuning Deer Park in Mercer County posted to its Facebook page Tuesday that several fire departments helped contain the fire to just two enclosures before it could spread to the main winter housing unit. 

"With broken hearts, we must announce that they were unable to save the lives of two of our precious animals," the park said in its post. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Pymatuning Deer Park's owner said the two animals that were killed were a female bearcat named Grumpy Cat and a female black and white lemur named Lola. 

Wednesday afternoon, PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet sent 21 News this statement on alleged issues that have arisen between the agency and the park. 

Just two months after PETA notified Pymatuning Deer Park of the group’s intent to sue the roadside zoo over its mistreatment of endangered animals, one of those animals is dead: Lola, a highly social lemur who lived and died in solitary confinement because this decrepit outfit wouldn’t let PETA arrange to transfer her to a reputable animal-care facility. If the roadside zoo learns anything from these deaths, it will let PETA find appropriate homes for the surviving animals before it’s too late for them, too.

 

The statement went on to say that the deer park has also refused to allow the agency to rehome Bosco, a bear that the agency said has been confined antiquated concrete pit for decades and is now showing signs of arthritis, a condition that the agency said also plagued the bear who was confined with him before her death. 

Back in December of 2020, PETA sent the park a notice of intent to file a citizen suit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. 

According to the filing, Pymatuning does not have permits to "take" endangered animals such as tigers, lions, lemurs, wolves and others. 

The filing said if the park wanted to avoid litigation, it would have to facilitate the transfer of the animals at issue within 60 days, which has since passed. 

PETA's filing also detailed that the USDA cited Pymatuning for shooting an adult tiger by gunshot as a form of euthanasia. 

You can view the entire notice below.