Letters
From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)

We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Circuses and Animals A Bad Mix

Letter as published on Lohud.com
February 17, 2014

We urge the public to boycott the Royal Hanneford Circus and all circuses that use animal acts. These animals are taken from their natural homes and forced to do stupid, unnatural “tricks” that teach children dominance and cruelty to animals.

The late Tom Rider testified here about his experiences as a circus elephant trainer — the beatings, forcibly taking their babies from them using starvation and drugging (elephant moms are fiercely protective of their babies, just like human moms) — for what? So the public can laugh at them for an hour’s “amusement.”

Enlightened, decent people are turning away from these spectacles; please visit www.circuses.com for more information.

Thank you for showing kindness to those who have no choice and no voice.

Kiley Blackman
Tuckahoe

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