By Lynn Gallagher
Unfortunately, there will be a circus that includes wild animals again this year at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. If people read my letter in advance, maybe some people will avoid it.
Why do the Shriners continue to raise money from animal abuse?
Many people have seen what happens behind the Big Top. They understand that wild animals in circuses have lives of despair and deprivation and are trained using intimidation and abuse. Ringling Bros is out of business.
Why do the Shriners continue to sponsor and promote circuses that use wild animals? Don’t worry about the Shriners Hospitals losing funding. [Much] of the hospital funding comes from an endowment. The El Kahir Shrine homepage and flyer state that proceeds [from events] go to the El Kahir Shrine and cannot be deducted as a charitable donation.
If you want to support the hospitals, contribute directly to the hospitals. If you are against animal abuse, do not go to the circus. If you are a Shriner, please help your organization transition to a different type of fundraising. Thank you.
Oh good grief. Next up: Elimination of fish tanks. They have lives of despair and deprivation….
yes
So good to see this information getting out there! Indeed, most people do not consider the lives of these wild animals outside the lights and action of the circus tent. The realization of what their day-to-day lives are like is horrific once you come to it. There is no need to treat animals this way to entertain ourselves!
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Gandhi
It’s time to make some moral progress and put an end to circuses that use wild animals for human profit.
Thank you for writing this letter, Lynn. I believe it will affect people who have open mind and care about others’ suffering. There are many ways to raise funds for nonprofit organizations. Shriners can definitely select ones that do not involve animal abuse.
I’ve attended animal circus performances and watched them on screen as I grew up. Once I learned the truth of cruel treatment of the involved animals, I felt regretful that adults around me failed in educating themselves and me. No human or animal should be tortured for my or anyone’s entertainment.
Good to see the real truth about how animals are treated, in this case by the circus, getting some much needed attention. Thanks for writing this and thanks for printing. Thanks for the comments that demonstrate compassion.
The vast majority of the public (for instance – a recent poll showed over 90% of English citizens support a ban) now opposes this backward, cruel practice.
So, anyone who still thinks watching a captive elephant or tiger (they are chained/caged for an average of 90% of their lives) ‘do tricks’ is wholesome ‘family fun’ – is part of a very rapidly shrinking group.