community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Hunger-Strike Against Ringling Bros. Circus
by Michael Croland
Wednesday, Nov. 03, 2004 at 5:55 PM
mic@andrew.cmu.edu
Thirty-plus activists decry animal abuse on Ringling’s opening night. Visit www.circuses.com for more info.
More than 30 activists protested outside Mellon Arena as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus held the first of several local shows on Wednesday. Attendees were hard-pressed to enter the arena without learning about Ringling animals’ inherent suffering.
Seven Voices for Animals activists are fasting for three days to raise awareness of the neglect, abuse, and deaths so common for Ringling animals. During the three-day fast, each activist represents a different animal killed in Ringling’s (lack of) care.
“We’re sacrificing our appetite for three days, but that’s nothing compared to a lifetime of misery for the animals Ringling holds captive,” said Candice Zawoiski. Zawoiski is fasting in memory of Kenny, a 2-year old baby elephant forced to perform in two shows despite obviously being seriously ill. He died later that night.
Darren Gruetze is fasting in memory of Arnie, a Bengal tiger who lashed out at a trainer’s brother. As punishment, Arnie was caged and shot in the face five times. “He attacked because that’s what wild animals do when you beat them,” said Gruetze.
Peter McKosky chose Clyde, a lion who died in July from heat exhaustion and dehydration while traveling in a boxcar through the Mojave Desert without water.
“He epitomizes everything wrong with the circus – being forced to endure stressful transportation, his inability to escape torment, and his eventual death,” said McKosky.
These horror stories are anything but exceptions to the rule. Ringling Brothers and other animal circuses have a long record (accessible at http://www.circuses.com) of poor USDA investigations and violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The animals are ripped from their families and natural habitats, beaten to perform absurd tricks, and forced to live in chains and cages while traveling to perform for virtually the entire year. Veterinarians’ advice for animals to skip shows is frequently disregarded, because “the show must go on.”
Voices for Animals asks that people not attend animal circuses like Ringling Brothers, where cruelty is abundant and entertainment is not worth the cost.
Activists Hunger-Strike Against Ringling Bros. Circus
by Michael Croland
Wednesday, Nov. 03, 2004 at 5:55 PM
mic@andrew.cmu.edu
ringling_1.jpg, image/jpeg, 1652x936
“Animals in circuses are deprived of
their freedom, families, and natural habitats,” said VFA activist Peter McKosky. “Depriving animals of their needs is par for the course with Ringling, much like denying one’s body of food for days would be.”
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)