Update: County Fair Cancels Circus After PETA Appeal

For Immediate Release:
August 9, 2018

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Sebring, Fla. –

After hearing from thousands of concerned citizens about the Highlands County Fair Association’s plan to host the Loomis Bros. Circus despite Sebring’s recently passed ban on using bullhooks (weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end, which circuses use to force elephants to perform) and other weapons on wild animals, the association announced today that the circus has been canceled.

Below, please find a statement from PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Rachel Mathews:

As PETA warned Sebring authorities and the fair association, any circus that threatens elephants and tigers into performing would violate city law by dragging its abusive acts into town. The Highlands County Fair Association made the right call to nix the Loomis Bros. Circus.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—thanks local resident Jamey Binneveld for her efforts to stop the circus from using animals, which included meeting with and writing to authorities and the fair association, speaking at Tuesday’s city council meeting, and planning protests of the circus performances slated for this weekend.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.