Florida zoo owner charged with mistreating animals

GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) -- Federal officials have filed an extensive complaint accusing the owners of a Florida zoo of failing to properly care for the animals.

The charges by the U.S. Department of Agriculture say the park wasn't properly supervised when a child was bitten by a camel. Rabbits weren't separated so their babies were eaten or injured and the tiger's enclosure didn't have proper ventilation.

The charges also allege the zoo didn't use proper veterinary care and relied on expired medications and even shot an animal as a means of euthanasia.

Owner Eric Mogensen and his daughter, Meghan, were charged with multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act at the Gulf Breeze facility, as well as two other facilities they own in Virginia.

The Northwest Florida Daily News (http://tinyurl.com/pyldtqb) reports an animal was allegedly drowned as a means of euthanasia at the Virginia facility.

A zoo marketing specialist reached for comment said she was unaware of the charges.

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Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.), http://www.nwfdailynews.com