Circuses

In contrast to the glitter associated with circuses, performing animals' lives are traumatic and short-lived. Because animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, or jump through rings of fire, whips, electric prods, and other tools are often used to force them to perform. Add to this the stress of extensive travel, confinement in dirty, undersized cages, and inadequate food and water supplies, and you have a day in the life of a circus animal.

Because of these miserable conditions and travel for up to 50 weeks of the year circus animals often rebel and rampage; in the past decade alone, over 220 people have been injured or killed as a result.

It should be noted that many circus animals are endangered in the wild. In a time when we are just beginning to educate our children and society about endangered species, using wild animals in circuses sends a dangerous message - that wild animals have no intrinsic value - that they are there to be used for something as frivolous as "entertainment.

Please take a moment to learn more about the circus industry and what you can do to help the many abused animals it exploits.

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