FAIA Bans Live Animal Displays After PETA Concerns About June Convention

Attendees at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents’ June convention in Orlando may have noticed the live giraffe exhibit at the Marriott World Center.

The giraffe won’t make it for the 2026 convention. Nor will any other live animal exhibits.

The FAIA has agreed to ban the use of live animals after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (known as PETA) contacted the association after hearing a complaint from someone at the June gathering.

“PETA shared with the association’s CEO that animals rented out for events like these suffer from abusive training methods at the hands of cruel exhibitors and often develop health issues and even premature death from inadequate nutrition,” PETA officials said in a statement this week.

B.G. Murphy, FAIA’s governmental affairs director, confirmed the change but did not provide further information. FAIA CEO Kyle Ulrich could not be reached.

“Giraffes are thinking, feeling beings who belong with their families in nature, not used as props at events and corporate functions,” PETA President Tracy Reiman said in a release. “PETA reminds everyone to always speak up when they see animals being exploited or harmed, and to urge their employers to never use live animals at events.”

The animal rights organization noted that in the wild, giraffes are accustomed to roaming as much as 1,200 square miles a day. But in a captive setting, animals can become stressed and frightened from the crowds and sickened from the travel in confined spaces. Some display animals have been known to seriously injure people, PETA noted.

As thanks to FAIA for its ban on live animal displays, PETA said it is sending the association vegan chocolates.

Photo: The giraffe display at the exhibit hall at the 2025 FAIA convention. (Purchased from Universal Image)

Topics Florida