Written by Jeff Mackey
Imagine you're cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, ragtop down, enjoying the Golden State sunshine. You flip on the radio and hear, "This next dedication goes out to Ringling: 'Shut Down' by the Beach Boycotts!"
This little mental vacation was prompted by news that a coalition of California humane societies has joined PETA in calling for a boycott of the cruel Ringling Bros. circus. As the coalition's announcement explains:
California Humane Societies agree: The use of animals as circus performers is an outdated—and inhumane—concept. Behind the scenes trainers often use whips, bullhooks, electric prods and other painful tools and methods to force animals to perform tricks. When not performing, animals are kept in small, cramped cages for days at a time with little monitoring.
PETA has worked with the Marin Humane Society, one of the worthy organizations behind this coalition effort, to train humane officers in inspecting elephants used by circuses—and clearly, what they've seen has made an impression!
Please show this to your local humane society or SPCA director and encourage him or her to join the growing ranks of animal protection groups that urge people to boycott Ringling. Please make sure that groups in your area have the facts, and ask them to get on board.
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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