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PETA Wants Federal Investigation Into SeaWorld Orlando

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ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) — The animal rights group PETA has requested a federal investigation into SeaWorld Orlando after one of the vets visited and didn't like what she saw.

PETA veterinarian Heather Rally visited the park in June and said she saw dolphins with skin abnormalities, orcas with dental trauma and rake marks, and unsupervised contact between the public and dolphins. Rally said what she observed were violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

PETA officials asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to send inspectors to the park to investigate. PETA has made similar requests about SeaWorld's two other parks in San Antonio and San Diego.

SeaWorld veterinarian Lara Croft says the USDA finished an annual inspection of SeaWorld parks weeks ago and SeaWorld did very well. Croft says many of PETA's observations are seen in animals in the wild too.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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