Tell the USDA to Protect Animals Used in Circuses

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Tell the USDA to Protect Animals Used in Circuses

 

 

 

Animal advocates everywhere are saddened and outraged by the recent deaths

of animals traveling with circuses in the U.S. In 1997, Heather, an elephant

traveling with the King Royal Circus, died as she was being transported in

an unairconditioned, overcrowded truck through New Mexico. Although King

Royal had a long history of animal neglect and abuse, including a videotaped

incident where a trainer stabbed and beat a baby elephant, the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) failed to take any action until after

Heather's death when it revoked the circus's license.

 

In January 1998, a trainer with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

shot and killed a tiger in a cage after the animal attacked the trainer's

brother. The USDA issued a warning to Ringling Bros. but refused to file a

charge in the tiger's death. Three weeks later, Kenny, a 3-year-old elephant

with Ringling Bros., died after performing while ill. Ringling Bros.

eventually reached an out-of-court settlement with the USDA to prevent going

to court. The circus neither admitted nor denied violating the Animal

Welfare Act, the law that is supposed to protect exhibited animals, in

Kenny' s death.

 

As these cases illustrate, the USDA is slow to take action, and when it

does, the action is not strong enough to prevent further violations of the

law. API recently conducted an investigation of the USDA's prosecution of

animal exhibitor violation cases. This is what we found:

 

Only about 20% of violator cases are ever prosecuted.

During the past 3 years, more than 75% of prosecuted cases were settled out

of court where the exhibitor agreed to pay penalties to avoid going to

trial.

In 50% of the cases, at least part of the assessed fine was either suspended

or applied to a specific expenditure such as the purchase of new equipment.

Only 14% of violators had their licenses permanently revoked.

Now is the time to speak up for animals in circuses. Please write the USDA

and urge it to do more to protect captive animals from the physical and

psychological abuse they suffer in circuses and other traveling shows. Ask

that the agency increase prosecution of exhibitor violation cases.

 

Send your letters to:

 

Mr. Mike Dunn

Assistant Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Affairs

U.S. Department of Agriculture

228-W Jamie L. Whitten Building

1400 Independence Ave., SW

Washington, DC 20250

202-720-4265

202-720-5775 Fax

Michael.Dunn

 

 

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