Sacramento Mayor Lets Arthritic Elephants With Ringling Perform Painful Tricks

FROM People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Please immediately contact Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and demand that the city vigorously enforce a recently passed ordinance requiring that traveling shows provide humane care to animals next time the circus comes to town. Forcing disabled elephants to perform difficult and painful tricks violates Sacramento's ordinance.

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INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

When Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrived in Sacramento on September 7, 2010, it was obvious that several of the elephants with the circus were suffering from painful arthritis. When they were walked from boxcars to the arena, the animals limped and walked with an irregular gait.

An independent exotic-animal veterinarian inspected the elephants and recommended that four lame elephants, Bonnie, Karen, Minyak, and Nicole, be exempted from performing physically strenuous and painful tricks. In addition to causing them pain, these tricks may worsen their physical condition. He also found that they suffered from long term neglect of foot care.

Mayor Kevin Johnson backed down when Ringling objected to performance restrictions for the lame elephants, forcing several of these elephants to hobble through grueling and harmful circus routines in which they stand on their hind legs and sit up, putting excessive weight on their muscles and joints.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!