Would you please take a moment to read this article that features something about the Carson & Barnes Circus booking in Highlands Ranch next month?  The Animal ACTion Network is quoted in hopes of educating the masses about the dangers faced by both animals & humans at these types of circuses:

http://exm.nr/JWhGBc

The article has photos & undercover video to prove the point.  Please be sure to share the link to the article above on your Facebook account or email friends.  AND, be sure to share our ACTION ALERT asking for letters to be signed that will help stop the booking of these circuses at:  http://bit.ly/HZ7NpP

(By clicking the link to the article above, it drives up readership stats & helps get it more widely distributed.  You can read it below, but please also click the link above, too…..thx!)

SMALL CIRCUSES IN SMALL TOWNS – A RISKY BUSINESS?

Summer’s right around the corner and, for many small towns, that means the circus will be coming to town.  Along with the peanuts and popcorn, here come some wild animals.  And that’s when the controversy begins.

Next month, Highlands Ranch, Colorado will be hosting the Carson & Barnes Circus.   Located in Douglas County, this town is recognized as being one of the most family-friendly communities in Colorado. They, like many other towns across the US, have chosen to host the circus as a "family entertainment community event."

Though many of the smaller circuses traveling the country may have questionable reputations, towns can be lured by the potential revenue to their city coffers.  When an appearance by the Kelly Circus (sister circus of Carson & Barnes) was pitched to Laconia, NH, a potential profit of $9,000 was projected for the city.

Wherever circuses show up, it seems that protesters do, too.  They point out safety and animal welfare concerns that go hand-in-hand with wild animals in the neighborhood.  A simple internet search of these circuses usually reveals a litany of violations and penalties for animal welfare abuse, as well as public safety issues.  

It’s a “wild” guess, though, if cities take the time to fully factor the liability issues into their decisions when presented with the opportunity to book the circus and bring in some much-needed revenues.

Elephant rides seem to be a popular lure. But, just last year, USDA inspectors issued multiple citations concerning circus elephant rides. Inspectors felt they allowed “for the risk of serious injury to members of the public.” In some cases, animal handlers walked away while children were on elephants.  In others, handlers were left to manage more than one elephant by themselves, a dangerous proposition should an elephant decide to run - as two have done in circuses overseas this year.

In Lanesboro, MA, a father took his son to the local circus.  Thanks to Animal Planet, kids are fascinated by elephants.  They've learned that elephants, in their natural habitat, are in constant motion, walking up to 15 miles a day. 

At these small circuses, though, they see and learn a different side to an elephant’s life.  This is where they may have the opportunity to see an elephant loaded up and confined in the back of an overheated truck, heading off for up to 50 weeks of highway travel, spending 58% - 98% of their lives in chains.  

Even worse, they may see what this child did; a handler swinging a bullhook at an elephant as if it were a baseball bat, striking the elephant on her face multiple times. The father and son couldn’t believe it as this handler swung with all his might. Obviously, a shocking experience for the child, not to mention a serious dose of reality.

What goes on behind the scenes of the circus performances, in the transport trailers where the animals live, in the freezing or sweltering parking lots where they perform, has prompted new legislation before Congress.  The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA) HR 3359 was recently introduced in an effort to assure public safety and the humane treatment of animals.  With much fanfare, well known celebrity animal welfare advocate, Bob Barker, testified as it was introduced to Congress.

On the heels of TEAPA, the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act HR 4122 was also introduced to Congress last month.  This is one of the most significant bills ever introduced that seeks to protect big cats in the US. With only about 100 USDA inspectors to police over 2700 exotic animal exhibitors – including circuses - and thousands of other animal facilities, this bill hopes to reduce the breeding and private ownership and abuse of dangerous big cats.  Celebrity Tippi Hedren, founder of the animal sanctuary Shambala, held a press conference announcing the historic significance of this bill.

In the age of social media, circus abuse is getting more and more attention. Last year, Ringling agreed to pay a $270,000 civil penalty, a historic fine since it was the largest ever assessed against an exhibitor under the Animal Welfare Act.  Ringling would not admit to violating the law.  They agreed to the settlement as a cost of doing business and  to resolve its differences with the USDA. 

Cole Brothers, a small circus, just this week accepted a $15,000 penalty from the USDA for alleged violations involving the care and treatment of its elephants, too.  Cole Bros. owner was glad to pay the money to resolve the issue, especially since he paid $150,000 last year for illegally selling elephants.  Previously, when a tiger escaped from a Cole Brothers circus in NY and caused an accident, it cost the trainer a $1 million settlement. 

Last summer, three tigers escaped from their enclosure at the Kelly Miller Circus and injured a horse.  The USDA cited them for this incident. It's not a big leap to imagine the uproar if a child had been injured during this escape.  Fines and oversight are mounting for circuses.

Ann Swissdorf of Animal ACTion Network/Colorado points out that “dozens of countries around the world have already banned wild animals in circuses.  Dozens of cities throughout the US are joining the movement.  Using wild animals in circuses is an archaic form of ‘entertainment’ whose time has passed.  Anyone who doesn’t realize what it takes to get large animals from town to town, in intense confinement, just isn’t paying attention.”

To that end, Pulitzer Prize winning author Deborah Nelson has been touring the country, educating the public about the inherent abuse of circus life with her Ringling expose “The Cruelest Show on Earth.” Through education, it appears her hope is society will evolve to a more compassionate level in its treatment of animals - particularly those in circuses.

As more and more small towns realize the danger circuses can bring to their communities, as well as the truth for the animals behind the big top, the days of wild animals coming to town might soon become a thing of the past.  But, then again, maybe amusement rides, games of chance, clowns, exotic foods, cotton candy, face painting, acrobats, and high wire acts can be thrilling enough for the kids this summer.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Small circuses in small towns - a risky business? - National exotic pets | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/risky-business-small-towns-booking-small-circuses#ixzz1sg0Dzo82