The director of a Wynnewood area animal park says he's got the proof that a former employee was planted as a spy for a national animal rights group.

Joe Schreibvogel is adamant the proof is a taped confession showing the People for the Ethical Treatment Animals group, better known as PETA, did pay an employee to come up with a way to make the G.W. Exotic Animal Park look as bad as possible even if the discriminating evidence was fictitious.

Last week Garvin County Sheriff Larry Rhodes confirmed his office is now investigating Schreibvogel's claim the employee was secretly working as a spy for PETA.

Schreibvogel claims the park employee of four years was using an external hard drive to copy the contents of his computer at the area attraction.

He also claims that same employee was using a camera supplied to him by PETA and laptop computer as part of the plot to discredit the park.

The park director's biggest claim is the accused employee admitted to his involvement when he was questioned by Schreibvogel and his attorney.

“He admitted almost everything on tape,” Schreibvogel said.

“We've got him on video admitting that they paid him to make a video to sugar coat, stretch and make us look as bad as possible,” he said.

Even Schreibvogel says he didn't at first believe the accusation. He said he was later convinced when he spoke on the phone with a PETA worker.

“His girlfriend tipped us off. I thought she was being vindictive,” Schreibvogel said.

The tip received, he said, was about a video camera used by the employee.

With the camera's serial number in hand Schreibvogel said he called the PETA office pretending he wanted to get it returned. Instead, he claims the whole plot unfolded at that point thanks to the PETA employee.

“She read off the number before I even said anything. She said that they had purchased the camera for him and this assignment,” he said.

According to Schreibvogel, the motive for the plot is money.

“I'm big enough and well known enough they're trying to get something on us,” he said.

“If they make it look like they're rescuing our animals then more money goes to PETA. They just need to build a case against us and make it look like we had all these violations.”

He's quick to claim there's no case to be made against the park because all inspections by state and federal officials over the past few years have been good.

“Everything's perfect with all the inspections of the park,” Schreibvogel said.