Crystal Palace have been urged by a leading animal rights organisation to retire their American bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, because, it says, a “bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals” and can force the bird to become “frightened, disoriented, and panicked” while putting spectators at risk.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have sent a letter to the club’s chief executive, Sharon Lacey, calling on the south Londoners to retire Phoenix and commit to never using a live animal mascot again.
