PETA: Video shows Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey trainers a...

In this March 9, 2009 file photo, a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus elephant steps off a train in Moonachie, N.J. The animal-rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a video showing what it says is the abuse of elephants and tigers used in Ringling Bros.

[Bob in Chicago]

How is Ringling Bros. still in business? They have a long history of documented animal abuses. Attendees need to wake up and quit being complicit.

[Suzanne]

Circuses are no fun for the animals. Bullhooks are vicious tools -- they make the elephants bleed and cry out in pain. It's a pity people don't value animal's feelings and wellbeing. Would you want your dog or cat treated this way?!

[kent]

This is the kind of stuff (cruelty, mistreatment, whaling, over-confinement, etc...) that PETA should stick to and not the ridiculous and unrealistic anti-pet, anti-leather/wool, anti-milking, anti-plow mule rationale.

[Get Real]

I am a dog lover and therefor disregard PETA. They euthanize any animal that is not immediately claimed by an owner. The VA dept of ag makes any agency doing business there file a report.

http://www.virginia.gov/vdacs_ar/cgi-bin/Vdac...

[Jacqueass]

Listen up everyone. For each commenter complaining about the circus's treatment of elephants, I want to see you post your veterinary doctorate degree AND real evidence of your scientific research on elephant handling and biology (fake studies done by PeTA or H$U$ don't count).

You have no evidence that using bull hooks harms elephants. You are PERSONIFYING the elephant.

It's time to stop paying any attention to PeTA and for god sakes, stop sending them money. They are a group of fringe loonies whose ultimate goal is the end of ALL animal use by humans.

[Tasty Animals]

Is it wrong to curse at an animal?

[Sam]

kent wrote:

This is the kind of stuff (cruelty, mistreatment, whaling, over-confinement, etc...) that PETA should stick to and not the ridiculous and unrealistic anti-pet, anti-leather/wool, anti-milking, anti-plow mule rationale.

I agree with you. If PETA really wants to help, assist the law enforce to end dog fighting.

[hey now]

cant we just all get abong

[Rob]

Jacqueass wrote:

Listen up everyone. For each commenter complaining about the circus's treatment of elephants, I want to see you post your veterinary doctorate degree AND real evidence of your scientific research on elephant handling and biology (fake studies done by PeTA or H$U$ don't count).
You have no evidence that using bull hooks harms elephants. You are PERSONIFYING the elephant.
It's time to stop paying any attention to PeTA and for god sakes, stop sending them money. They are a group of fringe loonies whose ultimate goal is the end of ALL animal use by humans.

Whether or not the elephants are being abused is worth investigating. But, even if they are not being physically abused, they are being held and raised incaptivity to earn money for the circus. Let's be clear, the primary reason for Ringling to keep these elephants is to perform for ticket paying circusgoers.

This is not a noble cause and it should be stopped. It is shameful that Ringling tries to garner good publicity by touting its captive breeding program. That program is designed to create new generations of elephants for the circus shows. There are worthy organizations dedicated to the welfare of elephant populations around the world and Ringling's program offers no added value to help the efforts of these other organizations.

If people are truly interested in helping elephants in the wild, don't go to the circus,donate to the Wildlife Conservation Fund, the National Geographic Society, the Bronx Zoo or any one of a number of other worthwhile organizations and scientific research programs.

[Mike]

Actually keeping these fantatic animals cooped up is animal abuse too. Man has problems when they think they are the caregivers of all of the animals.

[Anne]

Sam wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you. If PETA really wants to help, assist the law enforce to end dog fighting.

Dressing your dog up in clothing is abuse too. It also not their nature to eat in restaurants, so keep them at home.

[Just Observing]

Rob wrote:

<quoted text>
Whether or not the elephants are being abused is worth investigating. But, even if they are not being physically abused, they are being held and raised incaptivity to earn money for the circus. Let's be clear, the primary reason for Ringling to keep these elephants is to perform for ticket paying circusgoers.
This is not a noble cause and it should be stopped. It is shameful that Ringling tries to garner good publicity by touting its captive breeding program. That program is designed to create new generations of elephants for the circus shows. There are worthy organizations dedicated to the welfare of elephant populations around the world and Ringling's program offers no added value to help the efforts of these other organizations.
If people are truly interested in helping elephants in the wild, don't go to the circus,donate to the Wildlife Conservation Fund, the National Geographic Society, the Bronx Zoo or any one of a number of other worthwhile organizations and scientific research programs.

And why are zoos more humane? They are still in captivity. They are still controlled.
Is your problem the abuse or the captivity?

[Funny Guy]

What do you call a fence that an elephant site on?

A flat fence

[mr x]

this is why i will never patronize circuses that use animals. disgusting. i hope ringling bros. goes out of business.

[mr x]

i think you're a tad confused, dear. PETA does not house and euthanize animals. they are an animal rights organization. check their site first, find out what they do, then comment.

Get Real wrote:

I am a dog lover and therefor disregard PETA. They euthanize any animal that is not immediately claimed by an owner. The VA dept of ag makes any agency doing business there file a report.
http://www.virginia.gov/vdacs_ar/cgi-bin/Vdac...

[U R We Todd Did]

Anne wrote:

<quoted text>
Dressing your dog up in clothing is abuse too. It also not their nature to eat in restaurants, so keep them at home.

Hahahahhaha - funny funny stuff Anne. Thanks for the laugh

[Jacqueass]

Rob wrote:

<quoted text>
Whether or not the elephants are being abused is worth investigating. But, even if they are not being physically abused, they are being held and raised incaptivity to earn money for the circus. Let's be clear, the primary reason for Ringling to keep these elephants is to perform for ticket paying circusgoers.
This is not a noble cause and it should be stopped.

Aha! it's not about abuse, it's about captivity. This is the PeTA party line - end animal use by humans for pets, food, circuses, medical research, and ALL other purposes.

You are again PERSONIFYING the animal. Just because you wouldn't like to live in captivity does not mean that an elephant or dog or other animal has an ability to even understand the HUMAN CONCEPT of captivity.

Seriously, this is America. There is nothing wrong with making money from animals so long as they are treated acceptably (as determined by actual science). If you don't like the circus, don't go. Just keep your religious views to yourself and we will all get along better.

[Jacqueass]

mr x wrote:

i think you're a tad confused, dear. PETA does not house and euthanize animals. they are an animal rights organization. check their site first, find out what they do, then comment.
<quoted text>

Actually they do operate a "shelter" at their headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2008, they euthanized all but seven of the 2,216 animals they took in. The numbers are available at: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

Now, in fairness be aware that the above organization is a pro-industry lobbying group. However, they are dead right on PeTA's hypocrisy.

PeTA believes that dogs and cats are better off dead than in pet homes because the organization supports ending all human use of animals.

[Dog Owner]

Jacqueass wrote:

<quoted text>
Actually they do operate a "shelter" at their headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2008, they euthanized all but seven of the 2,216 animals they took in. The numbers are available at: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/
Now, in fairness be aware that the above organization is a pro-industry lobbying group. However, they are dead right on PeTA's hypocrisy.
PeTA believes that dogs and cats are better off dead than in pet homes because the organization supports ending all human use of animals.

Which is sick since domesticated animals would all end up as strays or dead. Our dog is very happy. With animals, there are ways to tell. He doesn't wag his tale, lick our faces, and jump on us for pets when we come home out of sadness.

[Imperator]

Sorry, but this video just didn't seem like cruelty.

Anyone see the video PETA released a couple years ago maybe about the guys slamming the chickens against the wall and cutting off their beaks??? Now THAT was cruelty.