On Thursday, animal rights activists gathered outside Brennan’s in Marina del Rey to protest the bar and restaurant’s turtle races.
Brittany Michelson, a campaign specialist for Captive Animals at In Defense of Animals, told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian that the races are cruel to the turtles.
“They have been exploiting turtles by forcing them to race in an artificial environment that is very loud and is stressful for these sensitive animals,” she said. “They feel fear, they feel stress. and they are subjected to harsh lights and loud sound speakers."
Brennan's Pub & Artisanal Brewers Collective issued the following statement to KNX News:
“When we purchased Brennan's Pub seven years ago, we found the long-term resident turtles were living in an inadequate habitat. They were not well cared for, and some were in poor health. We consulted with some of the region's foremost turtle experts, and spent lots of time and quite a bit of money building them a new habitat with room to swim, sunbathe, and live the good life. This project was not easy, but we did it with joy in keeping with our decades-long commitment to centering vegan menu options, donating to animal welfare organizations, and similar efforts to promote the well-being of our non-human neighbors on Earth.
We're proud to say that today the turtles are thriving. They are much healthier in their new home, and we have a certified veterinary technician on our staff who oversees their care. We are careful to monitor them closely, including every other week when some of them race and raise money for charities. We are proud to say that the turtles help us raise as much as $30,000 per year for good causes!
On race nights, our turtles are out of their habitat very briefly, and never for more than about ten minutes. None of them are required to race, as sometimes they prefer to nap or socialize while the others compete.
We hope that anyone who is concerned about them, or who just wants to say hello, will stop by."
Michelson, however, said she’s not buying the bar and restaurant’s statement.
“Animals are not here for our entertainment,” she said. “Plain and simple.”
The races are held on the first and third Thursday of the month.
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