Another circus sticking to the cruel and antiquated use of Elephants.
Article:
PETA Calls for Seizure of Elephants at Loves Park Circus
http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/47169197.html
Elephants are the iconic symbol of circus' around the world, but animal rights activists are calling for the seizure of three of them being used in a circus right here in the stateline. 23 News Reporter Chris Norman takes us under the big top with a look at this creature controversy.
Wide eyed excitement at the Tebala Shrine Circus, tainted by allegations of animal mistreatment. PETA, or people for the ethical treatment of animals, says three elephants, one seen here lost a combined 18-hundred pounds, just in the last year.
"These elephants are dragged around the country in over heated trailers for most of the year instead of walking up to thirty miles a day free of chains with their extended family in their native homeland," said RaeLeann Smith, PETA Circus amd Government Specialist.
Hamid Circus brought the elephants to the Indoor Sports Center. Its VP James Hamid Jr. says he and other circus owners hear these allegations all of the time. He denies PETA's claims and says there's nothing wrong with how his elephants are treated.
"There are certain people out there that don't do the right thing, and it's up to the producers to go out and find people who are following the letter of the law and treating their animals correctly, everyone on our show we feel does that," Hamid said. Hamid says he stays up to date with the US department of agriculture. An inspector was actually just out on Sunday. But PETA wants the government to step in now.
"We're hoping the USDA will act swiftly to ensure that these animals are pulled off the road and receiving adequate vet care before it's too late for them, " Smith said.
Hamid asks us to look at the animals, and judge for ourselves.
In its history the USDA has only confiscated two elephants. Over the weekend about 10,000 people attended the shows..
5 comments:
I saw those elephants in Loves Park, and they are definitely underweight. One of them, Jewel, is very emaciated. They also look depressed. James Hamid,Jr. says that there is nothing wrong with the way the elephants are treated, but he doesn't really know. The elephants and their trainer are not part of his circus. He contracts out for the elephant act.
I'm glad to hear that the USDA was called out to inspect them. Now they need to order them off the road. At least two of the elephants are below the weight that they should be at to travel. Better yet, the elephants need to be confiscated and sent to a sanctuary so they can regain their health.
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate you letting us know about the condition of the Elephants. A sad reality of the circus. Thank you again.
I am trying to help Lucy the elephant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Her Facebook page is Lucy Skanik. There has been a campaign to get her out of the zoo spanning 2 to 3 years now. Voice for Animals is the local grassroots organization in Edmonton. They can be found at v4a.org.
Thank you. As posted below, it's easy to help Lucy the elephant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Please see the link posted by a reader near the last comment at http://v4a.org/. Thank you to the reader.
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