New Jersey on Verge of Banning Wild Animals in Circuses

If passed, New Jersey bill A 4088 would penalize those exhibiting bears, elephants, lions, and tigers in circuses throughout the state.

A bill before the New Jersey Assembly, A 4088 , would impose a penalty for the exhibition or use in a performance of live bears, elephants, lions, and tigers in that state.

Wild and exotic animals, such as bears, elephants, lions, and tigers, do not belong in the circus. Many animals are forced to perform by the use of bullhooks, electric shocks, ropes, and other abusive tools. Many circus companies have been cited for violations of the Animal Welfare Act yet persist in forcing these wild animals to perform unnatural tricks. These animals not only face years of both physical and psychological distress, but also pose a threat to onlookers during their performances.

Last year, Greece banned the use of animals in circuses; and just recently, the British government did likewise.

New Jersey residents, contact your legislators and let them know you support A 4088, which would effectively ban the use of live bears, elephants, lions, and tigers in exhibitions and performances in your state. Residents of other states, let your legislators know you would like to see similar legislation to protect wild animals in your state.

Elephants Belong in the Wild

Elephants belong in the wild, not in zoos

Elephants do not belong in zoos. They do not belong confined to spaces inadequate for them to function normally. In fact, most elephant zoo exhibits cannot begin to replicate the normal roaming and foraging patterns of elephants who, in one day, can cover 10 miles over ranges measuring hundreds of square miles. In addition, zoo elephants;
• Reside on hard ground and cement surfaces, contributing substantially to painful foot and leg ailments. Foot disease is a common cause of death in captive elephants.
• Endure conditions that induce psychological and emotional suffering; for instance, living in isolation for extended periods of time.
• Suffer from the inability to partake in natural behaviors, like forming family groups. Infant elephants are often shipped to other zoos or circuses.
• Develop stereotypies, such as swaying or patterned walking, which are considered symptoms of psychological distress.
• Are subjected to inhumane treatment through the use of bullhooks and other negative training devices.
• Live in climates that do not replicate their natural environment, causing them undue stress.

The life of a zoo elephant is fraught with much pain, suffering, and sorrow. Therefore, permanently closing elephant exhibits and retiring the elephants to appropriate sanctuaries would do a great service to the world’s largest land mammal. Such a compassionate act on the part of zoo officials would serve as a true testament of their concern for the well-being of wildlife. Additionally, such an action will go far in fostering a public understanding and respect for the magnificent and gentle elephant.

We urge you to contact zoos in your locale where elephants are being deprived of their natural environment, companionships, and freedom from inhumane treatment and urge those zoos to close their elephant exhibits and retire any elephants in their care to appropriate sanctuaries. By urging zoo directors to permanently close their elephant exhibits, you will be demonstrating your compassion, respect, and concern for these gentle giants.

LA May Ban Performing Elephants

Life with a circus is not humane for elephants.

According to a news story, the City Council of “Los Angeles is poised to ban elephants from performing in circuses within its city limits….”

The circus has been around since ancient times. Meant to entertain, circuses often mean suffering, pain, fear, and degradation for the animals who are forced to perform day after day. Life is hard for the humans who choose to work in the circus. Life is inhumane for the nonhuman animals who have no choice.

Los Angeles residents, please contact the mayor and your council members to express your desire that circus elephants should not be allowed to perform in your city.

California residents, please contact the mayor of Los Angeles and members of the Los Angeles City Council to express your support of the proposed ban.

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor
The Honorable Herb J. Wesson, Jr., Council President
The Honorable Ed Reyes, President Pro Tempore
City Hall
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Update on the Apple Blossom Festival’s Circus

This year, the circus’s tigers, elephants, and other animals will not have to perform in Winchester, VA.

Update!

For decades, Cole Brothers Circus has been bringing elephants, tigers, and other animals to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® in Winchester, VA. Thanks to public outcry and allegations of animal abuse, this year will be different: no animals will appear in Cole Brothers’ act. This was not an ethical decision on the part of the circus or the festival’s planners. Rather, Simon Property Group, which owns the mall property where the circus is held, recently banned all circus animals from its properties. We are happy that Simon held strong to its resolution as the circus has a long history at this location. Hopefully, this will be the end of circus animals at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®.

Read our initial post on this issue.

Circus Animals Get a Reprieve

Paws Up!
To Greece for becoming the first European country to eliminate the use of animals in circuses.

Greece adds its name to a growing list of countries around the world that are banning the use of animals in circuses. Some bans include all animals; others include only wild animals.

Bolivia was the first country in the world to ban all animals from circuses. Other countries in South America considering bans or that have already enacted bans are Peru, Brazil, Columbia, Chile, and Ecuador.

Circus trainers openly use sharp bullhooks to control the elephants.

In Europe, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, and Croatia are considering restrictions or have already implemented restrictions on animals performing in circuses

China has banned the use of animal acts in circuses.

There are several cities in the United States that have banned traveling circuses but those are few, for example, Takoma Park, Maryland; Burlington, Vermont; Boulder, Colorado; and Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, California. We need to ban them either state-by-state or as an entire country.

Wild animals belong in the wild and not trained to perform unnatural acts for our entertainment. Come on USA, it’s time to join the rest of the globe in fighting animal abuse. Ban all animals in circuses.

Take Action: One simple action everyone can take is to never attend a circus where animals are performing. If there is no audience, there will be no circus. In addition, contact your state and Federal legislators encouraging them to introduce bans on circuses within your state and within the United States. The more we lobby for a ban on animals performing in circuses, the more likely such a ban will take place.

Source:
About.com (Greece)
Care2 (Greece)
Animal Defenders International (Peru)
Environment News Service (Bolivia)
China.org.cn (China)
The Telegraph (China)
Huffington Post (China)

Tell the House to Roadblock Traveling Circuses

NHES opposes all circuses that use animals in any of their acts because they ultimately exploit animals for human entertainment and economic gain.

Unlike reputable zoos and wildlife refuges, circuses do not serve to educate people about the animal world or its habitats; nor do they protect endangered species or strive to instill in the general public an increased appreciation and compassion for animals. Circuses fail to provide captive animals with a humane standard of care that requires the creation of natural habitats, ample area for exercise and socialization, appropriate diets, and suitable climatic controls. Further, some circuses use abusive training techniques including whips, chains, clubs, and electric shock to force animals to perform out of fear of punishment.

Therefore, NHES is urging the leadership of the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry to report favorably HR 3359, the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, which will amend the Animal Welfare Act to restrict the use of exotic and non-domesticated animals in traveling circuses and exhibitions, to the full House Agriculture Committee for a vote this legislative session.

Contact the leadership and request they act swiftly on this legislation. In addition, write your representative and encourage him or her to support HR 3359.

The Honorable Thomas J. Rooney
Chairman
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
1529 Longworth Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tele. No.: 202-225-5792

The Honorable Dennis A. Cardoza
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
2437 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tele. No.: 202-225-6131

Feld Entertainment Fined

Paws Up!

To the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for taking action against Feld Entertainment, Inc.

According to news reports, an agreement has been reached between the USDA and Feld Entertainment, Inc., owners of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whereby the company agrees to pay a fine of $270,000 for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). In agreeing to the settlement, however, Feld Entertainment admits no wrongdoing or violation USDA policy. According to the agreement, Feld is to “develop and implement annual AWA compliance for all employees who work with and handle animals, including trainers, handlers, attendants and veterinarians….”

Take Action: Write the secretary of the USDA thanking him for pursuing its case against Feld and urging the agency to ensure the safety of all animals in the entertainment industry and to charge those in violation of the AWA to the fullest extent of the law.

In addition, do not support companies that exploit animals for entertainment purposes. Therefore, do not attend circuses where animals are forced to perform. Instead, attend circuses where the human animal soars to majestic heights. Be enthralled with our own species’ ability to perform; leave the animals to live their own lives.

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250

Sources:
Mother Jones
The Huffington Post

Mother Jones Doesn’t Like the Circus

Paws Up!

To Mother Jones Magazine for the story “The Cruelest Show on Earth.”

Journalist Deborah Nelson wrote a 9-page investigative piece in the November/December issue of Mother Jones Magazine in which she details how Ringling Bros. treats its elephants. The picture is brutal.

Photo by Aaran Edmonstone/Flickr

What is equally disturbing, as Nelson tells it, is the lack of oversight by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has, under the Animal Welfare Act, the authority to put a stop to these abuses.

Take Action: Never attend a circus where animals perform. Instead, visit circuses where our own species is center ring. In addition, contact the USDA, through its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and tell the service to do the job it is entrusted to do—investigate animal abuse in circuses nationwide, charge those in violation of the Act, and mete out appropriate sentences to those found guilty. Also, thank Mother Jones Magazine for printing the story we all need to read.

Dr. Gregory Parham, Administrator
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234

Madeleine Buckingham, President
Mother Jones Magazine
222 Sutter Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108
Tele. No.: 415-321-1700

Source:
Mother Jones

 

One City at a Time

Paws Up!

To the Irvine City Council for banning the sale of retail dogs and cats, wild animal circuses, and rodeos.

According to a news article, “The Irvine City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday in favor of the ban, motivated by concern over large-scale breeding operations…. The vote drew a standing ovation from a majority of the 53 people who attended the hearing….

Photo by II_browneyes_II/Flickr

“People are ‘moving toward a more thoughtful and conscientious approach to animals,’ Claire Kim told the council in response to the ban. ‘This ordinance responds to the spirit of our times.’”

While some jurisdictions passing similar legislation may experience few, if any, incidents of stores selling cats and dogs or wild animal circuses and rodeos within their borders, ordinances such as the one passed in Irvine help support the growing awareness that animals are not here for us to use and abuse as we see fit. Animals have lives and purposes wholly their own; and few, if given the chance, would choose to live their lives out as puppy mill residents or entertainment objects for the humans of this world.

Take Action: Residents of the City of Irvine, let your councilmembers know you are proud of their efforts to protect animals. If your city or locale is considering such an ordinance, support your councilmembers by educating them on the harm done to residents of puppy mills, performing circus animals, and animals used in rodeos.

The Honorable Sukhee Kang, Mayor
The Honorable Beth Krom, Mayor Pro Tem
The Honorable Larry Agran, Councilmember
The Honorable Steven Choi, Councilmember
The Honorable Jeffrey Lalloway, Councilmember
c/o 1 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, CA 92606-5207
Tele. No.: 949-724-6000

Sources:

United Press International
The LA Times

Circus Elephants Get Their Day in Court

 

Paws Up!

To the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for filing formal charges against the Cole Brothers Circus for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

Charges have been brought by the USDA, before the secretary of Agriculture, in the matter of John W. Pugh, Cole Brothers Circus, Clyde Beatty Circus, and Georgianna Davenport for having “willfully violated the Animal Welfare act….”

Photo by Wisonsin Historical Images

The alleged violations include, among other charges, failure to provide veterinary care for the circus elephants, failure to employ adequately trained personnel to care for the elephants, and failure to maintain safe distances between the elephants and the public.

Elephants do not belong in a circus. These giant animals with their sensitive demeanor (when not harassed or forced to perform unnatural acts for the purpose of entertainment) belong in their native lands, forming matriarchal-led family units with strong ties to one another.

Take Action: Write a letter of thanks to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for bringing these charges and urge them to continue investigating animal abuse in the circus industry.

Dr. Gregory Parham
Administrator
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
USDA/APHIS/AC
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Tele. No.: 301-734-7833
E-mail: ace@aphis.usda.gov

Source:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/foia/enforcement_actions/2011/July/Animal%20Welfare%20Act/Complaints/FL07741%20&%20FX07141-AC%20Cole%20Bros.pdf