It's That Time of Year Again...
By mari61960
@mari61960 (4893)
United States
April 21, 2007 1:10am CST
Please help, it's spring and time for the Circus to come to town. Before you go please see what goes on behind the scenes to the animals. I can assure you it isn't what you think and most circus' opperate in the same mannor.
Animals don't belong in cages all traveling till they die or are driven to kill.
Two former Ringling employees have contacted PETA independently with allegations of routine abuse in the circus, including bloody beatings and a culture in which employees who object to animals’ cruel treatment are either ignored or punished. Still haunted by what she witnessed, Archele Hundley quit Ringling’s red unit in June 2006 after just two months, and Bob Tom, who worked on the same unit for two years, was fired in August 2006, allegedly for complaining about the beatings.
http://www.circuses.com/ringling_employees_tell.asp
Please see the video, Thanks
2 people like this
6 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
24 Apr 07
OMG Mari, I cried during parts of that video. I have always felt that using wild animals (or any animals) for circus acts was wrong, but that really brings it home for me. I had no idea about the TB in the elephants! Those hooks....I cried when they hit the elephants with them. I will be forever haunted by what I saw. Until now I was against the use of animals driven only by principle. Now, I have those images to further support my belief. Thank you for the link...I think. *shudders*
2 people like this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I know it is distressing yet quite enlightening. As sad as it is to see, I wish everyone could see it. It's a shame that everyone sits in the audience thinking how wonderful it is to watch them perform not knowing the truth of how they have to live.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Yeah, it is almost the opposite of what it should be. It seems that when folks see animals 'trained' to do as we want, they think of the animal as more 'human' or having been 'loved' more, rather than having been beaten into submission. I know that many just have no idea what has happened and they see their love of 'trained' animals as an extension of their love for animals...never seeing the way at which the animal reached this point of training. I know many animal lovers who enjoy the cirucus...never thinking beyond what they see.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Circus acts shouldn't include the use of wild animals. Wild animals are meant to roam in the wild. Sad how these beautiful creatures are treated. I would rather pay money to see an act that didn't include wild animals.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
5 May 07
Oh my god how can people stoop so low to hurt animals? that is just sick of them. I guess they do it to feel good about themsleves..I haven't been to the circus in a long time and now I don't know if I want to go and see the animals subjected to the torture to performa nd if they don't they get beat..just palinbad why can't they be left in their own habitat or atleast a good zoo..
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
10 May 07
If people knew more about it then I am sure they would protest against the torture of the animals and may bocott hem from coming to their area. They would lose alot of money and maybe in doing so they would start being better people in treating their animals fairly.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
5 May 07
I know it's so sad and most people are not aware of what goes on behind the scenes. They don't think about these animals traveling around the country just living in a cage and being abused to perform..very sad indeed.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
12 May 07
I cannot read it, as I do know what goes on, and it sickens me. Man is to blame, as they just really do not have enough love in their hearts for animals, only their own needs of greed and power at the expense of animals.
@WeenitsMom (492)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I have refused to go to the circus for many years now and this is the reason. Supposedly, this was all banned several years ago but there have still been many reports of abuse among these poor animals. I would rather give my money to a homless shelter than to a circus. Thank you for the reminder!
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
25 Apr 07
As long as the circus has animals in it I believe the abuse will continue.
1 person likes this
@WeenitsMom (492)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I know and it makes me sick. The worst part of it is that these reports have been on CNN and 60 Minutes and everyone knows about it but no one ever does anything about it. I guess it's okay to torture a stupid animal. What do you suppose that says about us a species...
1 person likes this
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Wow thanks for sharing this information. I didn't watch the video just because I don't think I could stand to watch anything on animal cruelty. Shoot I get upset watching the shows on animal planet LOL. I will definitely keep this in mind before we ever decide to go to the circus.
2 people like this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Oh, it's not bloody gore or anything like that but it does show actual circus footage and a has a story to tell. But that's ok. as long as I spread the word I feel better, so thanks for reading and responding.
1 person likes this
