Following the escape of a tiger at the Shrine Circus in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday, April 20, PAWS president and co-founder, Ed Stewart, sent a letter to Isis Shrine Potentate James Hughes, urging him to find an alternative to circuses that use wild animals. The tiger escaped during a circus act and wandered out of the performance area into a public bathroom, where a woman came face to face with the animal.

 

Ed Stewart, who formerly worked with trained wild animals in film, television and live appearances, criticized the way that the Bicentennial Center, where the circus event was held, and Tarzan Zerbini Circus staff later downplayed the threat, calling it "reprehensible and a disservice to the public." He stated in his letter: "No matter how highly trained a tiger may be, it remains a dangerous wild animal and poses a serious threat to the public. Children are especially at risk, because they are easy targets for these powerful predators. The trainers know, the circus knows, and the Shriners know it was pure luck that no one was injured or killed."

 

Circuses have a history of tiger attacks and escapes, some of which resulted in serious injuries. "In fact, "highly trained" tigers have attacked and seriously injured their handlers - the very people who are presumed to have the most control of the animal," noted Stewart. Notable incidents in circuses include: 

• Hawthorn Corp. (2008) - Tiger attacked man at training facility causing serious injuries; it was the second attack on the man.
• Hadi Shrine Circus (2006) - Tiger attacked trainer during show.
• Cole Bros. Circus in New York City (2003) - Tiger escaped and was pursued for 30 minutes, traveling one mile through the city.
• UniverSoul Circus - (2004) children were under tent in area where tiger escaped; (2003) tiger escaped into alley, frightening employees at a nearby restaurant.
• Bruno Blaszak (2003) - Tiger mauled trainer in front of 400 people.
• Tangier Shrine Circus (2001) - Tiger clawed trainer during performance.
• Shrine Circus, Little Rock, Ark. (1993) - Tiger escaped into audience and bit 13-year-old girl. 

Stewart explained it was no surprise that tigers would escape from circuses, and he predicted that it would happen again. Tigers can spend 11 months of the year confined in small cages, as they travel from show to show. The big cats are forced to perform unnatural tricks through physical violence, fear and intimidation. They are often whipped and jabbed with long poles.

 

"I urge the Shriners to consider hiring a circus that does not use wild animals," concluded Stewart. "The risk is just too great for the public, and there is a much more positive message that can be sent to the children and adults supporting your good cause if you present a non-animal circus. Keep the clowns, acrobats and high wre acts, but it's time for the animals to be freed from Shrine Circuses in the U.S.A."

 

Tiger escapes circus - April 20, 2013

 

 

 

Rhode Island Residents:

Support Elephant Protection

Legislation Today!

 

Rhode Island legislators are considering an important bill that would ban the use of the bullhook and prohibit the unnecessary chaining of elephants in traveling shows, but we need the help of Rhode Island residents to make that happen.

 

Elephants in circuses and traveling shows are trained and controlled through cruel practices that include use of the bullhook and chaining. Handlers use the bullhook, a steel-tipped rod similar to a fireplace poker, to prod, hook, jab and strike elephants so they comply with every command. The sole purpose of the bullhook is to dominate through fear and violence.

 

Chaining is another insidious form of control. Even though free movement is essential to elephants' health and welfare, in circuses they are chained for at least 17 hours a day - and far longer when transported across the country in crowded train cars and semi trucks. This severe confinement causes abnormal repetitive swaying and rocking, painful foot disease and deadly arthritis.

 

How you can help

 

If you are a resident of Rhode Island, please send an email to your state senator and your representative and ask them to support this important bill. You can use the sample message below, but please personalize it as much as possible. Please note that there is a different bill number for the Senate and the House of Representatives, so we have provided a sample letter for each.

 

To find your Rhode Island State senator and representative, please visit the Rhode Island Voter Information Center and enter your details under the "View general voter information" section. You want to contact your Senator in General Assembly and your Representative in General Assembly. Click on the link for your senator and then your representative; each will take you to a page with that person's contact information. The email address is on the right side of the page, under "Contact information." Simply click on the email link, paste your message into the body of the email, and send.

 

If you are not a resident, please share this alert with friends, family and colleagues who may live in Rhode Island. And please consider action that you can take in your own city or state to end the suffering of elephants and all wild animals used in circuses, such as writing a letter to the editor when the circus comes to town.

 

 

Sample message to State senator:

 

Dear Senator:

 

Please support SB813, the bill that would protect elephants from cruel practices in circuses and traveling shows that visit our state. These include use of the bullhook and the unnecessary chaining of elephants.

 

Handlers rely on the bullhook to dominate elephants. This steel-tipped rod, which is similar to a fireplace poker, is used to prod, hook, jab and violently strike elephants so they comply with every command. They are controlled through fear of pain.

 

Another form of control is chaining. Elephants are naturally active and will walk tens of miles a day in the wild, but in circuses they are chained for at least 17 hours a day, unable to take more than a few steps forward or back. Elephants spend even more time immobilized in chains as they travel from city to city for about 11 months of the year. Lack of movement causes deadly foot and joint diseases and abnormal repetitive behaviors unseen in wild elephants.

 

Elephants in traveling shows are subject to inhumane practices, purely for the sake of "entertainment." Please put an end to this cruelty by supporting SB813.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Sample message to State representative:

 

Dear Senator:

 

Please support HB5853, the bill that would protect elephants from cruel practices in circuses and traveling shows that visit our state. These include use of the bullhook and the unnecessary chaining of elephants.

 

Handlers rely on the bullhook to dominate elephants. This steel-tipped rod, which is similar to a fireplace poker, is used to prod, hook, jab and violently strike elephants so they comply with every command. They are controlled through fear of pain.

 

Another form of control is chaining. Elephants are naturally active and will walk tens of miles a day in the wild, but in circuses they are chained for at least 17 hours a day, unable to take more than a few steps forward or back. Elephants spend even more time immobilized in chains as they travel from city to city for about 11 months of the year. Lack of movement causes deadly foot and joint diseases and abnormal repetitive behaviors unseen in wild elephants.

 

Elephants in traveling shows are subject to inhumane practices, purely for the sake of "entertainment." Please put an end to this cruelty by supporting HB5853.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

DONATE TO PAWS BELOW. . .

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!