SHERWOOD, Ore. (AP) - A suburban Portland wild cat sanctuary is appealing $5,600 in fines imposed by an Oregon state agency after a fatal cougar attack on an employee.
The Oregonian reports (https://is.gd/lsfRSa ) that WildCat Haven Sanctuary representatives are scheduled for an informal hearing Wednesday with the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division. If agreement isn’t reached, a formal hearing with an administrative law judge would be the next step.
Animal care technician Renee Radziwon-Chapman was killed Nov. 9 when she was attacked while cleaning a cougar enclosure alone. In findings announced in March, the state agency said that WildCat Haven violated its two-person safety procedure by allowing employees to work alone with the wild cats on a frequent basis.
Investigators also said the latches on a smaller cage where cougars were locked out of the larger enclosure were inadequately designed. WildCat Haven said after the citations were announced that it had addressed the safety concerns.
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Information from: The Oregonian, https://www.oregonlive.com
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