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David T. Foster III / Charlotte Observer via AP
Ringling Bros. elephants are escorted through Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 25 as a promotion for the circus coming to town.
The parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus said Monday that it had agreed to settle U.S. government claims that its handlers had mistreated animals.
Feld Entertainment, which for years has been criticized by animal activists for its treatment of elephants, is not admitting any wrong doing but will pay a $270,000 civil penalty, the largest ever slapped against an exhibitor under the federal Animal Welfare Act.
"This settlement sends a direct message to the public and to those who exhibit animals that USDA will take all necessary steps to protect animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act," Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "The civil penalty and other stipulations in the settlement agreement will promote a better understanding of the rights and responsibilities of all exhibitors in maintaining and caring for animals under their care."
Feld also "agreed to develop and implement annual AWA compliance training for all employees who work with and handle animals, including trainers, handlers, attendants and veterinarians," the USDA statement said.
The settlement follows federal inspections over several years that found what inspectors said were violations of the law, especially when it came to how Ringling's 54 elephants were treated.
The Associated Press noted that one inspection report said a 35-year-old Asian elephant was forced to perform despite a diagnosis of sand colic and apparent abdominal discomfort. Circus officials told the inspectors that separating her from the other performing elephants would have been even more distressing to her.
Other inspection reports cited:
- Splintered floors and rusted cages used to contain big cats such as tigers;
- Handlers using the same wheelbarrows to feed meat to tigers and haul away their waste;
- A 2008 incident where two zebras briefly got loose from their enclosure at a Baltimore arena;
- A 2010 incident where another zebra escaped its enclosure in Atlanta and had to be captured by area law enforcement.
Feld stated it stands behind its staff and that it "decided it was more important to focus on the future of its business by continuing to provide the best animal care possible instead of engaging in costly and protracted litigation."
The circus has seen more inspections not only by the USDA but also by state and local regulators, noted Feld spokesman Steve Payne. From June to September, one of the circus' traveling units was inspected 82 times by 18 different agencies, he said.
"We're highly regulated. We accept that regulation. We embrace it," Payne said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, one of the groups that has battled Ringling, took some credit for the settlement.
"PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. with regard to crippled elephants, the death of a baby elephant, the beating of other elephants, and the killing of a lion, going back several years, have resulted in the biggest fine in circus history," spokeswoman Colleen O'Brien told msnbc.com.
Payne countered that PETA was never involved in the settlement talks or other legal action. "It's a shameless attempt to grab publicity for itself," he told msnbc.com.
PETA added that the Obama administration should crack down even harder. "The government has taken a first step," O'Brien said, "and now it must confiscate the elephants."
The USDA made no indication that it planned to do so.
In October, a federal appeals court backed Feld against animal rights groups that had sued over Ringling's treatment of elephants. The allegations included that circus staff use hooks and shock treatment to get baby elephants to learn tricks.
Feld is now countersuing, Payne said, alleging that the plaintiffs and their lawyers were in a "conspiracy to pay a witness for his testimony."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Good deal. We don't need that kind of "entertainment."
I disagree. I believe that a circus can operate without mishandling animals. I prefer a circus with animal acts. Cirque du Soleil is only a stage act with acrobats by comparison. Besides, PETA is bat@#$% crazy IMO. That turkey-dog thing was an embarrassment. I certainly hope they don't think they are going to make vegans of us all. Of course, that's just my opinion, but I won't buy tickets to a circus without animals.
Agree with you. Close all circuses down or at least the animal portion of it. Those poor creators are not on this earth to be displayed and consequently mistreated. The human elements that run in the circus world are usually the low end of beings that do not display the proper care and attitude towards the imprisoned animals! Look at them and you know what to expect.
Do away wit animal circus stuff!!!
I haven't been to a circus in 30 years. I have no desire to see animals being forced to perform "tricks". You can claim that they aren't abused but time after time it's been found that they are. I would vote to band animal acts in circuses.
Shut that Goddamn thing down. Shoulda been done 90 years ago. Shameful.
Let's shut down the media circus first......
Wild animal acts should be outlawed. If people want to see wild animals up close, go to a reputable zoo where animals are not kept in cages and are not made to "perform." Circuses are abominations, and I for one avoid them at all costs.
D_Loominator,
Are you off your meds? Try, at least try, to stick to the thread of the discussion, please. Circduses have been, since their inception, places of abuse of the animals for money, and will never change; Why would an exhibitor bother to change when it might mean a reduction of income? I haven't seen a circus in about 60 years and will never go again.
I have mixed feellings on this. People claim circuses are mistreating animals because they train them to perform. Does your dog fetch, or know the "heel" command? Is your cat trained to use the litter box? Do your parakeets talk and go to your finger when you tell them "up?"
I have no problem with training animals, but they must be treated with kindness and respect, and trained appropiately to their species and not abused. I don't think the circus companies should be forced to stop their animal acts, but it's reasonable to ensure their animals are being treated well. People who say the circus should get rid of their animals should consider giving up their own pets.
THammock, Oregon, sounds like you're part of the problem. There's almost no way they can offer animal tricks without beating the tricks into the animal. Yeah, PETA do some goofy, crazy things, but they DO care about animals. They just feel they have to pull these crazy stunts to get people's attentions...which is hard to do with a world full of self-centered people.
I was a school teacher for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus in 2007 (Red Unit), and I lived and traveled on the train with them. I was with the circus 24/7. The classroom for the child performers was any room we could find in the arena. Most of the time it was close to the animals. I never saw any mistreatment of any of the animals. I would not have stayed if I had seen abuse. I actually had the opposite impression. I saw the handlers cleaning and bathing the animals every morning, and also playing with the animals. I'm very surprised to hear about this fine based on my experience. I can only think that maybe it was based on the other two circuses Ringling has; the Blue Unit and the Gold Unit.
Dave, the difference is that dogs and cats are domesticated. Circus animals, whether wild or captive born, are wild animals. Do you actually think circus animals get a treat for doing something right? No, they exist on negative reinforcement and behavior. BTW, I never had to train any of my cats to use a litter box, I just showed it to them once.
"one unit inspected 82 TIMES" in 3 months...
People here are all weepy and knee jerky about treatment of animals and half of em have their dogs out in the yard all day with a bowl of water and grub, is that cruel? Cats with dirty litter boxes cause you're too busy to clean it? Is that cruel? Perhaps we should inspect YOU 82 times in 3 months. Is your house clean? That circus has a much better record than any of you are capable of having, for treatment of animals. Period.
In reality - the POINT of this article (which has to be explained because you totally MISS it otherwise)... This is just another sample of the Obama bunch collecting $$ fines wherever they can. Talk to small business owners about all the "regulations" that have come down on them recently.
There is a world of difference between establishing communication with a beloved pet and abusing animals so they will make you money. You must understand the difference, otherwise you are a dolt.
No. You are totally unrealistic. There is absolutely no way to ensure the safety of circus animals, and Ringling Bros., etc., are banking on that. They've been getting away with animal abuse for a hundred years, and it seems nobody can touch them.
I am thrilled that FINALLY, Ringling is being held accountable for their deplorable actions towards their animals, elephants, tigers and all those in captivity. It's about time, and as far as I'm concerned, Ringling needs to be totally shut down.
I would also like to see these handlers receive prison time for their cruelty. Personally, i would be usuing the same treatment on them as they are on these helpless animals.
Thank PETA also for it's investigation and work towards making this cruelty public.
No more excuses - make these people accountable!
Those clowns run there business like a circus
Well it looks like PETA sent out an Email alert on this so their minions could blog, post, re-post and carp ad nauseum. You know the number of incidents reported is quite small considering this is over 'several years' and that Ringling has a number of shows on the road. Heck two of them are about Zebras getting loose, not about them being mistreated. Splinters in a tigers cage? Well those suckers have claws, I bet they can do a lot of damage to a wood floor, but the Peta types would be screaming if the floor was metal, No where in the article do I see they intentionally abused any animal. One feeder used the same wheelbarrow incorrectly, he should be fired for that or at least trained better. One older elephant who was sick performed, I bet Ringling is right, she would have been traumatized by being separated...same as My Maltese is when she is left alone (FYI in 3 years the longest she has ever been alone is 7 hours and rarely is it over 4 hours)
So next point...uh ...Fred851708 everything is not political, if you had read the article this went back to before Obama was elected, and $270,000 is a slap on the wrist to Ringling, With all their units it does not even amount to the cash they take in on one show. You are just as bad as the PETA types.
Now to all the PETA lovers out there...Sounds like a great night for steak, or Veal Parm! All extremists are idiots.
I will definitely hit the Circus when it comes around next year.
Note: The zebra captured in Atlanta had to be put down after captured, It had been hurt and they could not save it. BOYCOTT all types of circuses. None of them, and I repeat, NONE of them, take good care of their animals. If you don't go, they will eventually go out of business.
PETA are a bunch of elite freaks. They understand nothing about animals, just their vegan agenda. Recently, a PETA member cut open the cages at a local wild animal rescue. These animals were unable to fend for themselves and two died before they could be caught and treated. PETA also seems to think that animals will not breed without human intervention; guess mom and dad never taught them about the birds and bees. I was raised as a conservationist; no animal was mistreated or allowed to be mistreated. When we hunted, the kill was as clean as possible and no animal was taken unless it was used. As a result, the herds on our lands were very healthy. What these vegan nuts don't understand is that something has to die for them to live; just because a plant doesn't scream doesn't mean that it doesn't feel pain. At least I have the fortitude to look my meal in the eye. I believe that the mistreatment of animals should be prosecuted but I also believe that PETA needs to quit making claims that aren't true; they've beaten that horse to death, so to speak. When they make it illegal to eat meat, I guess I'll start hunting PETA members; the meat should be good, they are grazers, and I'll be doing my part to cut down on their methane emissions.
I went to that circus one time. during the tiger act the tiger hid behind the fence and the blocks and started snarling and hissing. they workers came out with a long stick with a sharp point and poked it till it came out.
if an animal that can easily take out an 200 pound antelope gets scared of a skinny old woman its either mentaly ill or beaten
I don't doubt your experience. However, there are degrees of mistreatment. The fact is that the animals' total existence in a circus is to benefit humans by making them money, which I find condemnable. They have no life outside of that, and it's a miserable existence for them. The circus would have no use for the animals if they weren't exploiting them for monetary enrichment. These are intelligent, sentient beings, yet they are shown no respect at all. The circus is a thing of the past. Hopefully, we have learned from this experience, but it's time to reconsider and do the right thing by shutting it down.
I'm totally against any circus that involves animals. Shame on you Barnum and Bailey
So tell me, how do dogs learn tricks? Are you opposed to dog ownership as well?
I won't thank PETA as they KILL animals. "Better dead than enslaved" is their slogan and any housepet that's turned over to them is put down. That's not caring about animals. If the elephants were taken by PETA, that's what would happen to them.
You need to stop anthropomorphizing animals. They are not people. PETA is a terrorist organization, and as a general rule they have lost track of reality.
Your degrees of mistreatment are an illusion. They are mistreated or they are not. The law decides, not wishful thinkers. Most animals that are trained to perform enjoy doing so, and your insistence on assuming otherwise is just plain silly. Next time, try basing your opinions on facts. And don't trust PETA to provide facts...
THammock, Oregon
Your an Idiot! True; animals are not people. They are just BETTER than most people you included!
In reality - the POINT of this article (which has to be explained because you totally MISS it otherwise)... This is just another sample of the Obama bunch collecting $$ fines wherever they can. Talk to small business owners about all the "regulations" that have come down on them recently.
fred-851708 1.12 Care to back this up? or are you just spouting off what you thought you may had heard from the radio? Come On Fred Care to Back that statement up????? Do you know what Reality is??
I think in this case, "you, especially" is more correct. THammock has no recognizable conscience
Redwine-2761553, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
its about time. do people still go to the circus???
I have been going to the circus since I was a kid, and recently I took my own kids. That said, I think the days of including the animals in the act should be over, and I wrote them a letter to tell them so. The human acts are certainly entertaining enough, and the performing elephants, tigers, etc; should become treasured mascots in the form of a theme or decorations, but not actually there in the flesh anymore.
The atmosphere of the circus is a fun one for kids, more their environment than the Cirque du Soleil, and I think they are still viable. They just need to change with the times. No one seems to mind trained dog acts or the trained housecats, maybe since they are pets, and smaller and easier to transport, so maybe they could stay.
We took our kids to the circus this past summer and they had such a great time. It's sad to me to think of the animals being mistreated.
The only way they will get the message is not to give them your money. They get the animals to do what they want by using food as a "reward"; otherwise, they get no food. It's disgusting, shameful, disgraceful, barbaric, and a sin.
Mozzie Mozzie Mozzie Uhhhhhhhh Never mind
peta is the cause of most of all these troubles.bunch of misdirected morons.take away all the cows so children don't have milk.take away meat for body and building of bones.let them put whores from hollywood in cages and say that they should not wear furs.some furs come from animals that are farm raised.they use old chickens and such for food not wasting old birds.let farm raised animals out thus screwing farmers.keep bothering farmners who comprise 1/3 of us economy....@!$%# you tree hugger vegie eaters.you contribute nothing and stand for foolishness...........go to russia and see how much freedom you will have their....
Alan,
My child has been a vegetarian since I was pregnant. She is the most healthy child in her class, a straight A student and about to test for her black belt in karate (at 10). Your body was evolved to eat little or no meat. If it was, then you would have a digestive system like a cat. However, it is more like a cows. Educate yourself before you open your mouth.
Your "farm freedom" comes at my tax paying price. Ranchers raise cattle on public land. They are subsidized with my money. They poison our water and us with these antibiotic and steroid filled animals. That sounds pretty extreme.
I buy organic food from real farmers that don't need to poison my kid or the earth on my tax dollar.
I also don't go to circuses that use any animals.
Kato...I am a rancher on MY OWN PROPERTY! MOST ARE. I do not get subsidized either. Most dont. You need to understand that most are not the way you think. I am glad you chose your lifestyle and happy your healthy and so is your child. All I ask is you do some research and understand that ranching is not what you hear about in the media. Not saying there are public land grazing. But it is leased by the government to the highest bidder. The government gets paid by the ranchers. Farms get subsidized when needed. Yes some large corp farms take advantage of this but really to classify all ranching as this is not fair.
And my cattle are not hormone filled....they are only given the vaccines that are required by LAW. We raise natural beef.
Kato-I'm a bodybuilder. If you can suggest an organic form of protein so that I can build muscle mass, please let me know what it is and I'll be happy to try it.
jjplains, I am very aware of how farming works and who gets what. I know farmers. My dad still plays poker with the farmer I buy my corn from. He works harder at 65 than most people do all their lives. Yes, there are farmers who do not get subsidized. However, we all pay the price of farming. From water pollution and over use to killing of wildlife (wolves) to the cruelty to wild horses. We are not supposed to eat cows and it is a cruel death all at the expense of so much else.
bmiileroh I train in Krav Maga. I use soy and wheat protein, although I am going for lean muscle mass.
There are several body builders and big pro athletes that are vegan. Good luck.
Finally, PETA's doing something many of us can support instead of slamming kids for eating turkey at Thanksgiving. If they'd pursue more of this kind of work, perhaps they'd seem less of a joke.
Personally, you couldn't drag me to a circus for free. I've always thought they were a disgrace.
I have gone to see the circus my whole life and taken my children and grandchildren but I am absolutly shocked to hear that someone with Ringling Bro.s reputation would do such a thing. I'm upset to the point I would send a letter to them complaining. We admit to no wrongdoing but pay the fine rather than consider litigating further my ass. I'm disappointed they won't admit to what so many know to be fact. Telling me you did nothing with this much evidence against you pisses me off even more. Just admit it and move on. I feel so sorry for the animals being treated like this. I think even bigger fines need to be given to people who participate in this act of cruelty to animals. No wonder some elephants kill trainers. I'd do the same if someone treated me that way.
I am against animal abuse of any kind, but PETA is a terrorist organization that consists of sick wackos.
That anyone attends a circus and then professes that they did not know the animals were being mistreated is simply incredulous. Do you think those animals came with tricks? Do you think being pinned in a cage for 30 years is some kind of reward? Just how incrediablly insensitive or stupid are you????
No PETA is not a terrorist group - I do not support the group because they have there own little vans moving from animal shelter to animal shelter in Virgina and euthanizing animals in the van - they believe they are doing it more humanely - that the shelters pay them to do this is one example of how they have sold out.
Animals are used in inhumane testing of comsumer products- 90% of make-up product companies use animal for testing - these companies and many more tortured, abused and kill animals in the name of consumer research. Animals need a few terrorist groups on their side.
Ternan,
Yes, PETA does support domestic terror. They provide funding for ALF and ELF. The FBI has files on them, and they have proof that PETA supports these terrorist cells. You need to do your homework.
As for the rest of your post, I totally agree with you. Ingrid somehow thinks she is the be all, end all of animal rights, yet she is somehow justified when her organization decides to take innocent animal life. I really, really dislike people who elevate themselves to a godlike status.
PETA did not do a thing, they just are trying to pretend that did.
Let's face it-- these 3-ring circuses are a thing of the past. Cirque de Soleil and similar productions are the new, and more entertaining, trend in the industry.
I disagree. When we took our kids to the circus, the stadium was jam-packed.
Wow, a whole stadium full of people who couldn't care less how the animals are treated and how they learned their tricks. I guess this is not becoming a kinder, gentler nation.
I also attended the Ringling Brothers Circus last month and it was packed and the show was very enjoyable. The animals did not appear to be mistreated or appear to be sick in any way. Also, I saw a show once with dogs appearing in the show, the man that created the show, saved these dogs from being euthenized. These dogs were given up by some owners because they said they were untrainable others were taken from their owners because of abuse..... This man saved these dogs.... and was able to train them and they seemed like very very happy, healthy and loved dogs.
Dogs =/= Tigers, elephants, and bears. Dogs are trained with positive reinforcement and are susceptible to it because they have been domesticated. Tigers, bears, lions, and elephants are wild animals and need much bigger spaces and usually are trained using negative reinforcement ie shocks, whips, prods, etc.
From the audience they look healthy. Up close, when you see where they're kept and how they're trained, it's a completely different story.
Who wants to pay to see animal abuse and scary ass clowns?
John Wayne Gacy scary? Nooo....
i've always been afraid of clowns, bunch of weirdos
Maybe PETA should come clean about its stance on domestic animals. Media reports have laid responsibility for tens of thousands of household pets killed by PETA, that were brought to them by people who thought that PETA's standards applied to pets as well as animals that are consumed for food. Not so. PETA has never explained what we would do with the population of food animals that would undoubtedly explode if people quit eating meat. Imagine wild poultry running the streets like stray dogs and cats do now. People should scrutinize these hypocrites a little more closely. They're a fraud.
I've been a member of Peta for 25 years, and I have seen the world's view of animals changing for the better. What would we do with food animals, if we stopped eating them? WE'D STOP BREEDING THEM!!!!! As for PETA's stance on domestic animals, I have no earthly idea how you got that idea-- PETA doesn't kill domestic animals! What research, if any, do you have to support such statements? I have nothing but respect for PETA and the dedicated people who work for them.
Actually PETA doesn't think we should have any domesticated animals as all should be free...and yes, they DO kill pets....take a look here for the evidence: www (dot) petakillsanimals (dot) com
Not all animal rescue people are what they appear to be. PETA has a hidden agenda.
Oh yes PETA does kill domestic animals. They have a kill rate of over 90% for domestic animals left in their care and they kill pit bulls as a matter of course. Don't try and claim they don't. I'm an animal lover but PETA is a bunch of hypocrites.
The ANIMAL LOVER OF ANIMAL LOV ERS, Betty White, is/has been an active supporter/spokeswoman for PETA for many years.
Do you REALLY THINK she would get that deeply involved in their organization for such a LONG TIME if they were FRAUDS?
Not credible.
Prove it.
Nonsensical "Chatbots" are out on this blog!
:-)
Creeping -- I think you need to do a little Googling. Betty White has criticized PETA in the past which leads me to believe that she doesn't universally support the organization.
My family stopped attending circuses a long time ago. Finally, people are discovering how ugly and cruel circus life is for the animals.
Animals don't belong in the circus. And they certainly don't belong there kept in rusty cages, abused and neglected. Ringling is a big money making operation. But personally, I hate seeing big cats treated like trained dogs. And elephants made to do tricks. These animals belong in sanctuaries where they can live as close to their wild nature as possible.
Then you don't want PETA involved. Guess what'll happen to the animals if PETA gets hold of them? They will be put down.
Feld Entertainment the parent company of Ringling Brother's will be paying a $270,000.00 fine but will not omit to any wrong doing as they paraded their elephants purportedly named Jon, Mitt, Michele,Herman,Newt and Rick through Charlotte, N.C., on Jan. 25 as a promotion for their circus that came to town. The Big Top; leading their Republican presidential contenders by the nose.
"...This settlement sends a direct message to the public and to those who exhibit animals that USDA will take all necessary steps to protect animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act..." It's been said that they'll even go as far as to provide "Secret Service" protection for those presidential contender elephants touring the country.
I would just hope that parents would take their kids to Cirque du Soleil and stop the use of wild animals for entertainment. I cannot think of any wild cat that would go into a cage and perform voluntarily or an elephant that would see her baby abused. I support PETA and any other group to stop this.
Elizabeth, I agree. There is lots of fun to be had without watching poor, abused animals perform in fear of their very lives. Please, all the folks out there, do not support circuses that have live animal performances - you only encourage abuse.
We have not learned to treat each other with respect and descency, yet we have organizations that will go to extremes to protect animals. We should never mistreat animals, but it is even more important that we we should love for our neighbors. How can we expect folks who do not care about their own friends, families, and children to properly care for animals?
Personally, I have had more respect for animals than I do for most people.
Circuses are to animals, as Roman arenas were to gladiators. It should be a thing of the past in our modern society.
Uh when is the last time you went to a circus and saw two animals pitted against each other in a fight until one died?
Your analogy sucks
"We're highly regulated. We accept that regulation. We embrace it".......Well at least SOMETHING is HIGHLY regulated....Can we see that with our food and products too please? The government now treats animals better than us
I took my 2 grandkids to a circus about 10 years ago. I saw a trainer beat a sheepdog during an act right in front of everyone. The stories of abuse to their animals are true and they should just get a clue and eliminate the animal acts.
Finally, a story the animal nuts can feast on intelligently.
Can you please explain what an "animal nut " is ?
Certainly. PETA members, and those who feel they are morally superior to others because they don't hunt or eat meat.
So if someone elects not to be a savage and blow a bears head off from 200 yards away they are an 'animal nut'? If people such as yourself were the manly men you claim you were you should have no problem taking on the bear or elk without a weapon.
Eugene, I'm neither a PETA member, nor a vegetarian, but I do not believe in animals being abused for the amusement of whoever will pay to watch this "entertainment." Killing animals for the "sport" of killing, is barbaric too as far as I'm concerned.
Oh FFS you two. PETA's bitching about SUPER FREAKING MARIO because he wears a raccoon outfit. They're not smart enough to bitch about the trillions of turtles he's killed. And oh yeah, the whole "It's a video game" thing. Is anyone really to take them seriously?
Hunting? I don't hunt, but I don't act all high and mighty because of it. And why do you automatically assume people hunt for sport? I don't know a single hunter that doesn't eat/donate what he gets.
Guess there's other idiots I should've mentioned above :|
Eugene you are on the wrong video game
Frogger is much more horrid to computerized animals, it reaches us that Frogs are expendable! I am forming an organization to get Frogger Banned
PETVA People for the Ethical Treatment of Video Animals!
No more Frogger, No More Donkey Kong, No More Joust!
We will now use PETA members as Targets, you will shoot them with Spoonfuls of Fois Gras!
PETA nuts don't even want you to drink milk, eat eggs or butter. Lacto Vegans...sheesh...sounds like some character on Star Trek
All you "Extreme" animal lovers make me sick!! They dont mistreat those animals any more that you mistreat your spoiled rotten little brats at home, Thats whats wrong with this country today, Its extreme people like you that bring this country to its knees. The only reason that you think these animals are being mistreated is because of mainstream media and animal rights groups, Its all about the Money. Look at the amount of money that they bring in of fines being "Taken at gunpoint" and you cant do a damn thing about it. Just like The EPA, the Courts and the Federal Government, Its all about the Money, They dont give a rats ass what you think as long as your paying for them to reamain living high off the hog in their fine mansions, eating grilled pork chops for breakfast... so FUK all of you extreme bastards!!
You go Johnny, I'm with ya.
I'm not an extremist by any means, but I do understand cruelty and mistreatment when I see it. Why don't you take a look at how Ringling 'trains' it's baby elephants:
Well it wouldn't let me post the link, so look up www (dot) ringlingbeatsanimals (dot) com
I prefer the site
www.humansbeatPETAmembers.com
When I think of the Circus, I think of Gary Larson's The Far Side...Especially when the Lions whisper to each other "He's using blanks, Pass it on" is classic...I so wish they would catch on like that...LoL...The thought these animals should be in a protected sanctuary, than on display is correct...We wouldn't want humanity in some freakish hellish life, why demand some other animal pay the same toll ? Personally, modern forms of entertainment are simply going to make this one a thing of the past...
Yes from now on we are going to see only people mistreated in a Circus instead of the animals and that is going on since the start of the Circus also, so what are we going to do about that ??????
What's that you say, Harry?
Using animals for stupid, pointless tricks is low-brow entertainment for low-brow people. How can someone with any conscience or intelligence for that matter enjoy watching an animal perform when you know the animal was beaten and abused to make it do unnatural acts? Think about an animal's size and natural habitat and ask yourself if there is any way they could be content in a small cage or chained to a spike day in and day out.
Because you can train Animals with positive reenforcement
Unlike PETA members who you have to beat like hell to get them to perform
We have dog and horse whisperers who train animals without cruelty, so why is it that elephants, zebras, and the like cannot be trained similarly? Ringling Brothers et. al., should train their animals gently, or lose the right to keep them at all.
As for PETA, well, it's obvious that they are glory hounds; they love propaganda media, and are obviously willing to let someone else do the work, while taking all the credit.
When I was young, I never understood why my mother refused to take me to see the circus. I got really mad. Now that I'm older.....I'm glad she didn't take me. If only these Elephants and other animals could understand that all they have to do is lay on a human that is mistreating them.
There are still circuses? That's a 19th century throwback that ought to go away.
Whoa! Johnny, why don't you tell us how you really feel. Good grief! You are truly sad, I hope life gets better for you.
All circus need to drop the animals, in fact many of the so called zoos should be shut down. It is cruel to have wild animals in cages. Period. I don't have a problem with some of the animal parks, the animals live in a reproduction of their natural habitat and are fed and cared for properly. If you want your children to see these animals take them to the animal parks.
These guys are not the only ones that abuse animals. It does happen in the circuses, but also in some zoos, in animals raised for food, and with people who participate in dog or cock fighting. Unfortunately people will often turn a blind eye and not report abuse, this blindness even extends to child abuse.
I agree, Johnny is sad and pathetic.
There is no longer a need for a circus with animals. We now have beautiful performances that are all human such as Cirque du Soleil. To get an animal as large as an elephant or big cat to submit you must break their spirit. Breaking their spirit means cruelty. Animals should not be used in entertainment. I am not a fan of PETA, but I do agree with this point they make. I am all for the end of circuses that use animals. I remember seeing a circus when I was a child, and I was saddened by how broken and depressed the animals were. It makes me sad that humans believe we still need to use animals for our entertainment. :(
Thanks for mentioning the Cirque du Soleil.It is artistic and beautiful entertainment!
Time to disband the other Circuses they're useless!
My boyfriend is a gymnast and HUGE fan of Cirque du Soleil. It truly is a beautiful spectacle and highly entertaining. And the key point is that the humans in CDS know the risks and make the choice to participate. Animals do not get the choice. They are forced to do these "tricks". The circus makes me very sad.
Cirque Du Soliel, yea that wonderful company that FIRED an employee because he had AIDS.
http://www.americanbar.org/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/irr_hr_fall04_casestudy.html