Chicago, Ill. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA) has con-
firmed that Sears, Roebuck, and Co. has pulled its sponsorship of the
Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after a disastrous year of
animal-related
incidents and a barrage of complaints from PETA members. The retailer's
decision comes on the heels of the death of Kenny, a baby elephant
forced to
perform in Jacksonville, Fla., while seriously ill (the elephant died
the same day),
the shooting of a caged Bengal tiger by a Ringling employee, and safety
concerns, including a life-threatening tiger attack on a Ringling
employee in
Chicago.
PETA exposed Kenny's death in January 1998 and wrote
letters to Sears' board
of directors when the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
filed
formal charges against the circus for failing to provide veterinary care
to the
sick baby elephant. Ringling paid $20,000 to settle the case out of
court.
PETA's Animal Times magazine, which reaches the group's
600,000 members,
directed readers to complain to Sears about its sponsorship of the
circus, and
Sears shareholders contacted PETA to participate in a shareholder
resolution
to end the company's promotion of Ringling. Activists have also targeted
Sears
through "Action Alerts" on the PETA Web site.
"Sears prides itself on family values while Ringling
tears elephant families apart.
Ringling Bros. is a wildlife pimp," says PETA's director of Research,
Investiga-
tions & Rescue, Mary Beth Sweetland.
The USDA is currently investigating claims made by two
former circus workers
that workers beat another Ringling baby elephant, when not performing.
To send thank you's to Sears for no longer sponsoring
Ringling.
John Lebbad
Director of Event Marketing
727SMA-490
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Also:
Arthur Martinez, Chairman & CEO
Sears, Roebuck, & Co.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Phone 800-762-3048
Fax: 800-427-3049
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