Category Archives: The Truth About The Circus
Congress: Stop the Reckless Big Cat Trade
Shockingly, there are more captive tigers in the U.S. than there are in the wild. Due to lack of laws, unqualified people may easily purchase and breed tigers and other big cats across the country.
A recent HSUS investigation of one facility holding hundreds of big cats uncovered numerous dangerous public interactions with tigers, tiger deaths, frivolous breeding, and tiger cubs punched, dragged and kicked by workers.
The Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (H.R. 4122), introduced by Reps. Buck McKeon and Loretta Sanchez, would prohibit the private ownership and breeding of tigers and other dangerous big cats.
TAKE ACTION Please make a brief, polite phone call to your U.S. Representative urging co-sponsorship of H.R. 4122. Look up your Representative’s phone number. You can simply say: “Please co-sponsor the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act (H.R. 4122).” After making your phone call (please do not skip that crucial step!), submit the form below to send a follow-up message. Be sure to edit your message so it stands out.
SAMPLE EMAIL:
Your Message
Dear U.S. Representative,
There are currently more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than there are in the wild, and captive uses of big cats can undermine conservation efforts to save these species. Many are kept by unqualified people in flimsy cages.
This bill doesn’t affect legitimate zoos and sanctuaries possessing big cats. The majority of big cats are kept, purchased, and sold by poorly run roadside zoos and reckless private owners with little or no experience in the keeping, handling, or proper care of these animals.
Big cats are continuously bred to ensure a steady supply of young cubs are available for handling and sale, and older animals are transported to substandard facilities across the country.
Consequently, law enforcement must spend resources to deal with incidents where these deadly predators escape and threaten public safety.
Please co-sponsor H.R. 4122.
Article – HumaneSociety.org
Video – HumaneSociety.org
Enjoy the Circus? The Animals Don’t.
Life under the big top is not the “wholesome,” fun-loving, educational experience the circus industry would like you to think it is. For the animals, life is a monotonous and brutal routine of boredom, stress and pain. In short, traveling animal acts perpetuate animal cruelty, inhumane care, public safety hazards and distorted images of wildlife.
Circus animals are confined virtually all of their lives in barren conditions, while forced to suffer extreme physical and psychological deprivation:
- Virtually 96 percent of their lives are spent in chains or cages.
- 11 months a year they travel over long distances in box cars with no climate control; sleeping, eating, and defecating in the same cage.
- When allowed out, these animals are trained using extreme “discipline” such as whipping, hitting, poking, and shocking with electrical prods.
- Even though the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets minimum standards of care, most itinerary stops are not inspected.
Wild animal acts also pose a significant threat to public health and safety:
- Circus elephants may carry tuberculosis (TB), and can infect humans with the bacterial disease. Public records show that many circuses have used TB-positive elephants in public performances.
- Circuses are not required by law to carry emergency euthanasia equipment and local law enforcement agencies may be forced to deal with a loose animal.
- Since the 1990s circuses have been responsible for over 100 human injuries worldwide.
Read more circus facts Read the rest of this entry
Circuses
Bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don’t perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t.
For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as “positive reinforcement”—only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation. To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade. Read the rest of this entry
