The City of Frankfort Parks Department is a licensed and certified Class C – Exhibitor with the USDA. In 2024 the TPA Park Zoo & Aviary had been inspected four times after it received violations in November 2023. The USDA visited and inspected the TPA Park Aviary & Zoo on January 2024 with zero violations, April 2024 with zero violations, July 2024 with zero violations, and December 11, 2024 with eight violations. During the July 2024 visit, the USDA recertified and relicensed the TPA Park Zoo & Aviary for the next three years. The USDA did not begin inspecting birds until fall 2023 when the APHIS published a final ruling establishing new welfare standards for birds under the Animal Welfare Act.
“We acknowledge and understand the significance of each violation and I have been working with Joel, our Park Superintendent on addressing and identifying the issues. We are reviewing our policies and procedures when they accept new birds and animals either from donations or when they purchase an animal or bird. We are also reviewing our procedures for when a bird dies or is found dead,” stated Mayor Judy Sheets. “We understand the gravity of this situation and are just as concerned about the violations as the community is.”
Several of the violations have already been addressed. The violation for Standard Vet Care was cited because a form was not located in the file when the USDA Inspector arrived on December 11, 2024. The Parks Department has retained the same veterinary care for over 15 years with two clinics, Wayside Veterinary Clinic in Rossville and the Avian & Exotic Animal Clinic in Indianapolis. The Parks Department spent $3,865.60 at Wayside Clinic, $8,581.64 at Avian & Exotic Clinic. The Parks Department spent an additional $1,290.77 on emergency vet care at Purdue University Animal Hospital. The Standard of Vet Care form has now been properly placed in the file detailing the relationship the Parks Department has with these two veterinary clinics.
Parks Department Superintendent Joel Tatum provided additional details on the violation for inventory of birds. Due to the difficulty in counting small avian species once released in the aviary, the USDA only counts those birds before they are released in May and when they are brought back in for the winter months. During the citation period there were 40 small birds donated to the TPA Park Aviary from a single residence. Due to the current protocol, all birds and animals are required quarantined for a month before being released to the general population. Out of the 40 birds that were brought in and added to the inventory, 23 of them died due to prior illnesses.
On June 9, the Frankfort Parks employees noticed that nine large birds were missing, and a hole was cut in the side of the Aviary. The theft remains an on-going investigation with the Frankfort Police Department. “At the time it was difficult to tell if any of the smaller birds escaped during the theft. We have 35 small avian species that remain unaccounted for, meaning we don’t have a body, or a record of death for them, stated Superintendent Tatum.
Superintendent Tatum continued, “My team and I are deeply committed to providing the highest level of care for all the animals at our petting zoo and aviary. We prioritize their health and well-being through regular veterinary visits with both of our trusted veterinarians, in addition to conducting daily health checks. Each animal is cared for with the same love and attention as if they are our own, ensuring they thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.”
The violation for facilities and zookeeper routines have been and are continuing to be investigated by the City of Frankfort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of not only the animals and birds, but the safety of the Park staff and hundreds of visitors that visit the TPA Park Zoo & Aviary. This includes but not limited to a detailed review of all animal care protocols, staff training procedures, and facility maintenance practices.
The City of Frankfort is dedicated to the well-being of all animals in our care. We are committed to implementing the necessary changes to ensure the highest standards of animal care at the TPA Park Aviary & Zoo. We will address each of the violations to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. We will provide regular updates to the public as our investigation and corrective actions progress.

Comments