Representatives from People
for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were shocked upon discovering six penguins
floating in a swimming pool at Hotel Victor’s grand opening at South Beach,
because the animals are only acclimatized to artic temperatures.
The group has since criticized
Combs and the organizers behind the event and may press charges of animal cruelty.
“Penguins live in
very cold climates, so the heat was probably unbearable for them,” PETA
spokesperson Michael McGraw exclaimed to Page Six. “They're very sensitive
to temperatures, so if it was as hot as we've heard, it's a wonder they didn't
collapse. In any case, they were likely terrified. We are now looking into whether
having the penguins there broke any cruelty-to-animals laws. We're asking anyone
who was at the party to call us with any information.”
In defense, Combs publicist
Rob Shuter has stood up for the Combs, claiming that it wasn’t his idea
to display the penguins at the gala and he merely served as a host for the event.
Representatives for Hotel
Victor alleged that the penguins were actually “warm-weather” animals
from South Africa that were “trained specifically for entertainment, expositions
and television commercials.”
