Blogger Tonya Kay jumped through hoops to try to tell Cole Bros. Circus' "side of the story" in a two-part series posted on EcoHearth.com, but without much luck. 

A journalist working with Kay was offered three invitations to visit the circus, observe the animals, and speak with circus management—all three of which were later rescinded by the circus, which was apparently unconvinced by his claim that he planned to write a "shining review." Apparently, the circus is unwilling to speak to any journalist who might be secretly harboring plans to write anything resembling an unbiased report, as opposed to a glowing fluff piece.

It's little wonder that Cole Bros. Circus didn't want to expose the less than "shining" aspects of its operation: that elephants are beaten with bullhooks and tigers are jammed into transport cages, where they spend most of their lives.

In the end, Kay concluded, "I can't write a positive story on the Cole Bros. Circus because there's nothing positive to report."

You can read Tonya Kay's complete story here. And to help get the word out to others about Cole Bros.' dirty secrets, contact PETA's Action Team for help organizing a protest.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

In a hard-hitting interview with Canada's CTV network, the ever-eloquent Bob Barker blasts the Edmonton Valley Zoo and city officials for refusing to transfer Lucy, the zoo's ailing and aging elephant, to a sanctuary. Lucy will spend most of the next six frigid Alberta months alone inside a barren barn with nothing to do but sway and dream of the life that she was meant to have.

Bob, pulling no punches, calls Lucy's living conditions "really just one of the worst cases that I know of" and says that he is "appalled at the misery that Lucy has suffered there in Edmonton at the Valley Zoo." Watch here to see Bob take Edmonton and zoo officials to task.

Both Bob and former NHL powerhouse Georges Laraque have offered to make a $100,000 donation to the city to get the transfer underway, and earlier this year, comedian Steve-O led a PETA protest outside the zoo. Canadian William Shatner appealed directly to the mayor to do the right thing for Lucy. But so far, officials have refused to budge.

We're pushing full speed ahead to get Lucy's case heard in Canada's Supreme Court, but in the meantime, please e-mail polite notes to Edmonton's mayor and city council and beg them to move Lucy before winter sets in.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Demonstrators at yesterday's protest of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' opening night in Denver ranged in age from a 3-year-old girl to senior citizens, and every one of the more than 60 attendees played a vital role in helping to expose the circus's abuse of animals.

The protesters engaged many potential circusgoers in meaningful conversations about how Ringling's trainers beat elephants. At least one couple decided right then and there not to attend the circus. And even if the circusgoers could ignore the adults, they couldn't say "No" to the adorable children handing out literature.

Whether you're a veteran animal advocate or first-time protester, an AARP member or in the pre-K set, it is never the wrong time to speak out against cruelty to animals. Contact PETA's Action Team to learn how you can start getting active for animals today.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

After leading the charge for hundreds of protestors demonstrating outside the Ringling Bros. circus, Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels found time to give an interview about why she is fighting for elephants and how people can get involved. Getting the word out about circus cruelty "is the easiest thing to get behind," says Jillian.

Many elephants used by Ringling suffer from crippling arthritis and other debilitating ailments because they spend most of their lives in boxcars and chains.

Follow Jillian's lead: Post notes on Facebook and Twitter urging parents and grandparents never to buy tickets to Ringling. Write a letter to the editor. And contact PETA's Action Team to help plan your own demonstration when the circus arrives in your city.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

UPDATE: Represented by renowned attorney Clayton Ruby, PETA, Zoocheck Canada, and Tove Reece, president of the Edmonton-based Voice for Animals Humane Society, have asked the Supreme Court of Canada to allow a lawsuit against the city of Edmonton to force Lucy's transfer.

The following was originally posted September 8, 2011

Heartened by an Alberta Court of Appeal judge's lengthy dissenting opinion in favor of hearing our lawsuit regarding what we believe are abusive and illegal living conditions for Lucy, the lone elephant at Edmonton Valley Zoo, PETA and Zoocheck Canada will ask the Supreme Court of Canada to hear her case.  

In her opinion, which took up more than three-fourths of the entire ruling, Chief Justice Catherine Fraser wrote that PETA and Zoocheck Canada have shown "a prima facie case of the City's unlawful conduct vis-à-vis Lucy."

Lucy has been in solitary confinement for more than three years and, not surprisingly, is showing signs of "zoochosis," including pacing and repetitive swaying, that indicate severe psychological distress. She also suffers from arthritis, obesity, chronic foot ailments, and upper respiratory problems—all of which are aggravated by Edmonton's frigid climate and the fact that Lucy, who is native to Asia's tropical jungles, must spend most of the year confined to a barn. Recent zoo records indicate that Lucy is more obese than ever, despite supposedly getting more exercise during the summer.

Contrary to the zoo's claims, elephant experts consulted by PETA and Zoocheck Canada who have seen Lucy and her medical records say that there is no reason to believe that she cannot be moved safely to a sanctuary in a more temperate climate. Indeed, they say that her health will continue to decline if she is not moved.

You can help by sending a polite e-mail to the Edmonton City Council asking members to free Lucy before she has to face yet another winter confined to a dark, depressing barn.

Written by Alisa Mullins

Imagine having to perform strenuous physical tasks even though you were suffering from diarrhea and abdominal discomfort so severe that you were taking pain medication. That's just another day in the life of Banko, a 35-year-old female Asian elephant traveling with  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus who was forced to perform even though she was sick.

Of course, this is the same Ringling show that is dragging around ailing elephant Sarah, who collapsed last month while being loaded into a boxcar in California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Ringling for failing to provide Sarah with adequate veterinary care and for requiring Banko to perform (doing so was inconsistent with promoting her good health and well-being).

The USDA also issued a citation to Ringling for handling animals in a way that causes injury after a handler closed a cage door on the tail of a 9-year-old tiger named Kimba, who suffered a laceration as a result. Ringling gave every appearance that it had something to hide when it denied federal officials access to the employee who was responsible.

Tell every parent you know what's really going on at Ringling Bros. Ask them to avoid supporting circus cruelty by refusing to buy a ticket.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

After hearing from PETA and concerned area residents, Glendale, California, Mayor Laura Friedman has proposed changing the city's float entry for the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade from a "circus elephant"—which represents pain and suffering—to one of an elephant in a natural setting.

Check out the draft design idea that PETA submitted to the mayor and city council for an "Elephant Freedom" float:

Please ask the Glendale City Council to support Mayor Friedman's kind position. 

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Thanks to the generosity of fantastic PETA supporter and activist, Anna Ware, PETA has been able to put billboards up across Augusta, Georgia—ahead of the arrival of the notoriously cruel Cole Bros. Circus to that city—making sure that residents know that elephants used in circuses endure a lifetime of abuse and neglect and that "Elephants Never Forget."

Animal advocates will also protest outside circus performances in Augusta, and PETA members will greet students leaving Augusta's Monte Sano Elementary School to let families know about the Cole Bros. Circus' cruel treatment of animals. Cole Bros. was repeatedly charged with violations after authorities found evidence that animals used by the circus were beaten, malnourished, overworked, and neglected. And in June, an elephant handler working with the circus was caught on video viciously beating an elephant.

If a circus that uses animals is scheduled to come to your town, don't take it lying down—stand up and give animal abusers an experience that they won't soon forget. Find out how to get active for animals here.

Written by Jeff Mackey

On a hot Labor Day weekend, Los Angeles–area residents showed their warm hearts by turning out in droves to speak out against notorious elephant abuser Have Trunk Will Travel's (HTWT) elephant rides at the L.A. County Fair. Then, as the first demonstration was wrapping up, another wave of people came to protest, so fairgoers were treated to back-to-back demonstrations.

Standing outside a busy entrance and screening undercover footage that shows HTWT trainers as they strike and shock elephants, demonstrators received honks and waves of support from passing cars and handed out almost 3,000 leaflets to interested fairgoers. Because of the overwhelmingly positive response, chances are good that the elephants gave far fewer bullhook-prodded rides.

And we're not about to ease the pressure on HTWT or the L.A. County Fair—PETA has secured a demonstration spot near an entry gate to the fair for the rest of the month. As long as HTWT is trying to make a buck off elephant suffering, animal advocates will be out in force convincing fairgoers that their money is better spent on the Ferris wheel.

It's not too late for you to tell the L.A. County Fair to send cruelty to animals packing.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

As the L.A. County Fair opens this Saturday, notorious elephant-abusing company Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) is scheduled to be there, selling rides on elephants. There is still time for people to e-mail L.A. County Fair organizers and ask that they send HTWT packing.   

If HTWT attends as scheduled, members of PETA and Animal Defenders International (ADI) will protest at the entrance to the fairgrounds on Saturday afternoon. The groups will screen the video footage that ADI obtained showing HTWT trainers striking elephants with sharp, metal-tipped bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods.

Although fair organizers have seen this footage and heard from countless people, including classic rock band Styx, asking them to bar HTWT from the fair, they have refused to do so. By allowing HTWT at the fair, organizers are not only supporting elephant abuse but also putting the public at risk. One of the elephants used by HTWT revolted at the Denver Zoo, throwing a trainer against a wall, knocking over a woman and her baby, and scattering crowds of visitors. Another elephant who came from HTWT trampled a handler at the L.A. Zoo, smashing his collarbone and bruising three ribs.

Help keep the pressure on the L.A. County Fair and remind the organizers that there is nothing festive about cruelty to animals. 

Written by Michelle Sherrow