Caught on Video: Circus Cruelty (OT)

[Guest guest]

Dear Ingrid, PETA's undercover investigators have obtained disturbing video footage of the horrific abuse inflicted on animals in circuses. In the footage, Tim Frisco—an animal care director in the Carson & Barnes Circus—instructs would-be trainers to use steel & -tipped bullhooks to force elephants to perform tricks. Frisco embeds the sharp metal hook into an elephant's sensitive skin, causing her to bellow in pain, as he says, "Sink that hook into 'em. When you hear that screaming, then you know you got their attention!" I know how upset this image of elephant abuse must make you, but we must not look away. The suffering of animals in circuses is covered up and ignored. It is up to PETA and caring people like you to vigilantly confront this abuse—and its perpetrators. I need your help to stop this cruelty and make sure that the perpetrators are punished.Frisco, the man we caught on tape, learned his barbaric training methods from his father, who was himself a former trainer for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Ringling has long been an unrepentant abuser of animals, but the following PETA victories demonstrate the difference that your generous support can make:We're driving away Ringling's national sponsors. Grocery chain Harris Teeter has informed us that it will follow other major corporations—including Denny's, MasterCard, Visa, Liz Claiborne, Lukoil, and Sears, Roebuck & Co.—in distancing itself from the trail of dead animals that follows the circus. We've uncovered evidence that has prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to open six investigations into Ringling's possible violations of the Animal Welfare Act.Our constant presence has given several former Ringling employees the courage to come forward and tell the public about the systematic cruelty that they witnessed. This has given the circus another black eye—and it's convincing compassionate families to spend their money elsewhere. For the last two years, PETA's circus monitors tracked the circus at every stop. Day and night, they kept their cameras rolling. It was difficult and sometimes dangerous work. Our staffers were threatened and even attacked by Ringling employees, but we continued our work to protect these exploited animals. And we're showing the video footage shot by our monitors to officials of businesses and major cities like Chicago. We're showing them what Ringling doesn't want ticket buyers, corporate partners, and government authorities to see.By donating to PETA online today, you can help us keep the pressure on Ringling and all circuses that use animals and make it clear that you will not tolerate the torture and humiliation of these sensitive, beautiful animals for the sake of entertainment.Thank you for speaking up for these often forgotten victims of the entertainment industry. Your voice and support can provide these animals with hope.Very truly yours,Ingrid E. NewkirkPresidentP.S. What makes our video documentation even more disturbing is the knowledge that this is how circuses treat animals every single day. How else could they get them to perform such confusing, painful, and dangerous stunts? It's time to retire these abusive animal acts permanently. Ingrid, can I count on your help today? This e-mail was sent by: PETA 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510United States