Ringling Bros finally in court over Elephant Abuse

[lmarieaa]

Animals Rights Advocates finally were able to get the Ringling Bros in court over the abuse of their treatment of their elephants under the Endangered Species Act. It is regarding the treatment and care of the elephants. They are graphic videos that you can find on the Peta website of the "trainers" beating the elephants with the sticks (the rod with the hook at the end used to train them). They claim they use this rod as an "extension of their arm" and are used to "gently get them to move along." If it was as gentle as they claim it to be, elephants wouldnt grunt or scream in pain, and their body wouldn't be cut up.
I don't understand why they are denying the abuse when it is documented on film, obviously beating screaming distressed elephants.
Its crazy how they can soften the acts of abuse on these elephants sound like nothing. Using terms like "gentle training." and in their Elephant care fact sheet on their website (Facts) they state that the enclosures for all the animals were specially designed to meet their needs. In my opinion, I don't think small barred off areas where they can hardly move and ankle chains count as a good environment for them.
Here is a link of the entertainment group that manages Ringling Bros, its a defense of their case. It is basically just a website set up specifically to off set the bad PR that they are getting, and don't want to lose bussiness. Ringling Bros. Trial Information Home
Here is a no-biased article about it: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/04/ringling-bros-animal-activists-clash-ele"phants/

So, they claim to get "spectacular care" and "exceed the requirements" for meeting the needs of their circus animals. It that was actually true, they wouldnt be in this position. They wouldnt be in a trial right now over it.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (where the lucky circus elephants go to live out their last years) provides roomy stalls for their elephants (thats if they need to be inside for some reason) otherwise they are roaming the massive feilds and eating wholesome food. They don't use the rods or leg chains. My point being, that there is a acceptable way to house elephants happily in captivity.

My heart goes out to these elephants. Their poor toutured souls, emotionally and physcially abused to no end to preform stupid tricks for paying customers.
Another one of their defenses is that "if you take away the elephants, you are eliminating a great american past time." It is time to move on. Just because it was a past time is no justification for horrible abuse. We overcame slavery, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination among many others. Why do we still continue to abuse very intelligent and emotional animals for our mere amusement? I thought it was 2009, but I feel like we are living in the stone age.

[lmarieaa]

here is the animal advocacy website with the videos I referenced in case anybody wanted it. Circuses.com: The Circus is No Place for Animal Abuse

[Peggysu]

Originally Posted by lmarieaa

We overcame slavery, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination among many others. Why do we still continue to abuse very intelligent and emotional animals for our mere amusement? I thought it was 2009, but I feel like we are living in the stone age.

Unfortunately there is still slavery in our country and racial discrimination along with gender discrimination. I will agree it is all much better than what it used to be. With that being said I believe that animals should be treated better and do not deserve to live horribly because they are being used for human entertainment.

[fairylover]

I hope the Ringling Brothers get put out of business and all the people who train the elephants or allow this are thrown in jail. I wish....

[pigsmakemesmile]

I hate the circus! I don't go, will never go, and never support it when it comes through my town... when they drop tickets off in my office I throw them out and even ask them to leave...only for the simple reason-the treatment of animals. I hate seeing the animals forced to perform tricks...tricks that are unnatural to the animal. I know that abuse occurs, one has to be a fool to think otherwise.
It'll take an act of God that is, to get the government to enact laws that forbid the use of animals in circus acts. Sadly money talks and if people pay to see the animals perform then this practise will continue.
There's an old "twilight zone" episode where a man lands on another planet and is taken in by its inhabitants. He is welcomed and given a beautiful home and food. When he tries to leave, finds the door locked from outside. Next thing that happens is the curtain lifts and he finds himself as an exhibit...on display in "their" zoo.
Silly as it sounds, this episode had an impact on me.

[Sammy and Peanut]

Wh-oooh! *Puts on party and does little dance* It's about time Ringling Bros. get what they deserve! I hope they get trampled by those poor and helpless elephants!

[TwilightStar]

Originally Posted by Sammy and Peanut

Wh-oooh! *Puts on party and does little dance* It's about time Ringling Bros. get what they deserve! I hope they get trampled by those poor and helpless elephants!

You're no better than them.

"I hope they get trampled by those poor and helpless elephants!"

[dra&pigs]

Originally Posted by TwilightStar

You're no better than them.

"I hope they get trampled by those poor and helpless elephants!"

Oh dear...not again.

So I guess it doesn't matter that the elephants were tortured daily to perform tricks and routines to please us? That they didn't have a choice in the matter of being beaten? If you were beaten with sticks and points, would you not want the opportunity to hurt them back, even if it wasn't physical? These animals can't go to court like humans. They can't protest-they would be hurt even more.
Actually, she's tons better than them. She doesn't hurt her animals. She cares for them and loves them and provides them a wonderful home. Can you say the same about the Ringling Bros.? I think not...
sorry TwilightStar, but you seem to care more about arguing than animals.

[TwilightStar]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Oh dear...not again.

So I guess it doesn't matter that the elephants were tortured daily to perform tricks and routines to please us? That they didn't have a choice in the matter of being beaten? If you were beaten with sticks and points, would you not want the opportunity to hurt them back, even if it wasn't physical? These animals can't go to court like humans. They can't protest-they would be hurt even more.
Actually, she's tons better than them. She doesn't hurt her animals. She cares for them and loves them and provides them a wonderful home. Can you say the same about the Ringling Bros.? I think not...
sorry TwilightStar, but you seem to care more about arguing than animals.

I merely care about humans,too.
It's not arguing, it's knowing that violence cancels each other out.
I didn't say it was right what they did. It's horrible and cruel. Do I want them to have the same fate? Nope. Jail seems sufficient to their crime. I simply think that wishing violence on another being is wrong.

[dra&pigs]

The Ringling Bros. wished violence on the elephants. I care about humans-considering I am one, it would be only logical I value myself. But humans who inflict such pain and tortue upon other creatures (IMO) don't deserve any sort of sympathy.
Yes, violence does cancel each other out...I'm in agreement with that almost 100% percent. But I also don't think that Sammy really wanted the elephants to trample the men, but it was a bit of an exaggeration (sp?).

[Amsley246]

I hate when people use animals as merely a form of entertainment. I as well don't go to the circus but I do go to the carnival (they never have animals there, just rides). I love the carnival candy apples!! I hope justice is served to those people for those animals who were treated horribly. There is no excuse for it. I used to cry when I watched the movie Dumbo (the flying elephant with the big ears, he was so cute!) but they treated him cruelly in the circus (and the other animals as well). I find it hard to believe they would show that in a disney movie for children, but it gives people a vague idea the circuses don't treat animals well at all and they shouldn't be supported.

[TwilightStar]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

The Ringling Bros. wished violence on the elephants. I care about humans-considering I am one, it would be only logical I value myself. But humans who inflict such pain and tortue upon other creatures (IMO) don't deserve any sort of sympathy.
Yes, violence does cancel each other out...I'm in agreement with that almost 100% percent. But I also don't think that Sammy really wanted the elephants to trample the men, but it was a bit of an exaggeration (sp?).

I guess when people say violent things...it shocks me. That's all.
I think such cruel people should be in jail for a very,very long time. I also think they shouldn't get TVs in jail...but this is unrelated.

[dra&pigs]

Hey, is your username TwilightStar because of the book Twilight?

[TwilightStar]

No, I love the word twilight. It's my favorite...yes I have favorite words. I have read Twilight,though.

[dra&pigs]

Oh. Well, me (being the obsessed Twilight fanatic that I am) just guessed it would be Twilight...but twilight is a cool word, now that I think about it.

[Amsley246]

I LOVE Twilight! I proudly keep all 4 of my books on my tv stand . I must have watched the movie over a hundred times!

[Amsley246]

I love the word waffle by the way!