(Albany, New York) The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and In Defense of Animals (IDA) are demanding that the Dept. of Environmental Conservation immediately revoke the license of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for alleged elephant abuse.
The groups' request comes after IDA documented eight instances in which Ringling--while performing in Coney Island this summer with elephants owned by Carson & Barnes Circus--allowed direct contact between elephants and the public. The contact is a clear violation of the terms of the license. The circus is scheduled to perform in Buffalo October 22 to 25.Evidence indicates that members of the New York Fire Department came in contact with an elephant on September 3 and, since then, photographs have surfaced showing seven instances of elephants coming in contact with members of the public.
From my average-Joe perspective, it's hard to understand how people can get so worked up about elephants in a circus. With only 168 hours in a week, I try to be selective regarding the focus of my compassion-related time.
I get worked up about child abuse and drug abuse and poor schools and the tepid support for the U.S. military. You'll catch me spinning angrily about human smuggling, child slavery, honor killings and blatant corruption in government. And don't get me started on the millions of people who lost their jobs for hopey-changey, redistribution of wealth and government growth.
Unlike the animal rights crowd, I can't see being too jazzed about alleged circus elephant abuse. I'm too busy being compassionate in other areas. In any event, it's notable that if the PETA crowd gets its way, the circus elephants and all the circus workers will join millions of others without jobs.
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