AR-News: CIRCUS - Tell TLC Tours to not support animal cruelty

[סמדר]

Original is from: Luree 
mailto:luree at islandnet.com

Aan: odolsen at mb.sympatico.ca
Onderwerp: CIRCUS - Tell TLC Tours (BEF ORE 3-20) to not support animal cruelty 

 
Hi-     Please send a POLITE email to this Tour Company who is supporting Ringling Bros. Circus. 

Please tell them that this horrific circus Ringling Bros. beats and electrocutes their elephants and is being sued by the ASPCA for hurting the elephants. Employees have come forward about the abuse, under-cover video has been taken, and USDA documents show problems with animal care. Elephants and ALL animals should be treated humanely and should not be hit with Bull-hooks and electrocution to make them perform anti-natural tricks such as an elephant standing on her head. There is also EXTRA information about Ringling Bros. cruelty below if you would like to read. Thanks
 
TLC Tours (Leprechaun Lines) is offering a bus tour trip to Ringling Brothers in Manhattan on March 20th.  Please email and or call them and fill them in about Ringling and circuses in general.

Email to: info at leprechaunlines.com

Ph: 1-800-624-4216

TLC Tours
Rt. 32 Souuth
P.O. Box 2628
Newburgh, N.Y.  12550

But for the use of physical punishment by, and fear of, their oppressors, animals would never be a part of a circus." —Richard Pryor 
This spring, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus will be coming to the nation's capital. Along with the clowns and games, the circus will bring a far more disturbing element: animal cruelty. Despite the image painted by Ringling's public relations operatives, the animals exploited by Ringling Bros. perform out of fear and intimidation. In addition to a long list of citations for noncompliance with even the minimal protections of the Animal Welfare Act, Ringling Bros. trainers have been videotaped using whips and bullhooks on elephants. Ringling Bros. has even successfully lobbied against a bill that would have banned electrocuting elephants. Consider this sworn testimony from former Ringling elephant barn-keeper, Tom Rider: After my three years working with elephants in the circus, I can tell you that they live in confinement and they are beaten all the time when they don't perform properly. Click here for Mr. Rider's full statement. Mr. Rider is not the only former Ringling employee to expose Ringling abuses. Former Ringling performer Kelly Tansy has this to say: On my very first day with the circus, I witnessed animal cruelty. I saw an elephant being beaten in what appeared to be a disciplinary action. The beating was so severe that the elephant screamed. I have come to realize, through all the circuses that I have worked for, that mistreatment of animals is a standard part of training and is thought to be a "necessary" part of exhibiting them. I have seen chimps locked in small cages constantly when not performing; elephants chained continuously; and even animals being beaten during performances. You won't find these quotes in circus programs anymore, but one well-known elephant trainer stated in the 1978 Ringling program that, according to his father, "An elephant trainer must have a strong back, a weak mind, and a savage disposition." Another trainer, when asked if it was necessary to use force and electricity to train an elephant said, "It sure as hell is. Don't let nobody tell you any different. It's the only way to deal with an elephant." Since leaving the circus, I have educated myself about natural animal behaviors. There is no way that an animal can even begin to fulfill a decent life while traveling on the road with the circus." Ringling Bros. has an abysmal record of animal care, including USDA inspection reports with citations for noncompliance with minimum federal standards. In the last four years, two baby elephants traveling with Ringling Bros. have died; a caged tiger was shot to death after attacking his trainer; a horse made to perform despite her chronic medical condition, died in the street in Norfolk, Va., during an "Animal Walk" held by Ringling; and a wild-caught sea lion was found dead in her transport cage. 

What You Can Do 

 
Ringling Bros. teaches children that it's acceptable to steal animals from the wild, beat them into submission, and force them to perform degrading acts through the use of force and intimidation, all in the name of fun. It's time for parents to just say "no" to Ringling Bros. 
Circuses will stop using animals when we stop giving them our money. Boycott all circuses and traveling acts that use animals. Instead, support animal-free entertainment like Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, the New Pickle Circus, and Cirque d'Hiver. 
Several communities have banned live animal acts in their area. Some include Quincy, Mass., Takoma Park, Md., and Hollywood, Fla.. Ask your city council to follow the path that these compassionate communities have blazed by creating an ordinance to outlaw animal acts. 
Write letters to local papers encouraging people to boycott abusive events. If such an event does come to your town, organize a demonstration and distribute this fact sheet to your neighbors and patrons of the event. Click here to read COK's brochure, Circuses: Cruelty for Profit.
Click here to learn more about animal abuse in the circus industry.
Click here to read about Ringling's public relations vendetta. 

You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them, or to them."  (Malcolm Forbes, 1919-1990)


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