City to Toughen Circus Inspections Following PETA Complaint

Group Obtains Records Indicating Ringling Permitted to Perform Despite Numerous Violations of State and Local Laws

For Immediate Release:
October 31, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Chicago -- Chicago's Office of Inspector General has issued a report calling for changes in the way that the city handles circuses and other animal exhibitors. The report follows investigative requests submitted by PETA in 2010 and again in 2011 after public records revealed that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was allowed to perform in the city despite numerous and serious violations of both local and state animal-protection laws and that no enforcement action was taken. New procedures, which go into effect in 2013, could mean that some elephants with Ringling suffering from painful foot and joint ailments could be prohibited from performing.

"The changes recommended by the inspector general are a step forward and should result in greater oversight, but the only way to end Ringling's chronic and well-documented abuse of elephants and other animals is an outright ban on circuses that use animals," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Animal-protection laws are enacted for a reason, and it's time that the city of Chicago stopped giving Ringling a free pass and enforced those laws."

The following is just a small sample of the issues identified in records obtained by PETA—all of them apparent violations of laws requiring adequate veterinary care:

• An elephant named Nicole had an erupted abscess on her toenail that apparently went untreated. (Foot ailments are the leading cause of death among captive elephants.) Also, her legs were swollen and stiff.
• Other elephants had draining tracts along their nail beds, overgrown toenails, excessively worn and overgrown footpads, open abrasions, and stiff gaits—yet were forced to perform.
• An elephant named Sara had multiple physical and psychological problems and was unable to lift her foot normally—often an indication of pain.

Chicago Animal Care and Control has committed to increasing training for all inspectors and will also have increased discretion to take enforcement action.

For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.