The other day,
I participated in a letter writing campaign launched by PETA against Denny's choice to continue supporting Ringling Bros. Circus. PETA is trying to bring attention to the Ringling's concept of animal welfare. Caging animals for long hours, forcing them to perform tricks, taking them out of there natural environment and claiming it's better, and of course use of hooks.
Here is my letter...
Mr. Nelson J. Marchioli, c/o Ms. Cudd
Dear Mr. Marchioli, c/o Ms. Cudd,
Dear Mr. Marchioli,
I can only assume that you were unaware of Ringling's history of
animal abuse when you agreed to promote the circus at your
restaurants. Please consider a few of Ringling's USDA citations
from last year, which include causing trauma, behavioral stress,
physical harm, and unnecessary discomfort to two elephants;
failure to provide veterinary care to a lame elephant, an
elephant with a swollen leg, and a camel with bleeding wounds;
improper handling of dangerous animals; and failure to maintain
the zebra enclosure. Given this information, please discontinue
your promotion of Ringling.
Sincerely,
Sean Lewis
Sincerely,
Sean Lewis
Pretty much the run of the mill letter template that PETA utilizes right... nothing fancy.
Here the the response...
Denny’s Statement
Before agreeing to partner with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, we spoke with representatives from Ringling Bros. and thoroughly reviewed information about their animal care policies and practices.
We learned that in all aspects of animal care and safety, Ringling Bros. meets or exceeds all federal animal welfare standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act.
Based on our review of the information we received, we are confident that Ringling Bros. provides the highest standards of care for their animals. Please visit www.elephantcenter.com if you would like more information on Ringling Brothers animal care
I find myself curious right off the bat about who they actually spoke with and what particular information they actually received. So I did some homework, on the USDA, PETA, Ringling's past track record, the elephant center, and more.
Interesting, the USDA regulations are vague to say the least in the areas the concern most of the animals that Ringling would have. The basically have to make sure the animal is in good health and not a threat to itself and others. Sounds good, but that opens the door to the question of where the the animals wellbeing in the corporate sense. They could be caged for long periods of time as long as they are feed, watered, and occasionally allowed to stretch there appendages. I'd imagine that would only have to the bare minimum they could get away with. Even to a "layman" these animals, between transport and destination, sound as if they would be caged most of their existence. As long as they get an hour (up to 4 by PETA's count) or so a day to move around, by USDA standards that is acceptable.
The USDA is vague, it's a sad but true reality. Some of which I'd suspect comes from the big cattle industry who wanted to make sure they don't get limited on their existing practices. Some from the way humans look at animals a property and commodity.
Ringling themselves come off as full of it.
They have been accused of a long list of violations, while using double talk to deny it. Beatings, prolonged chaining, caging, and transportation. Animals packed into train cars to a point they can't even lay down?
They are accused of poor training methods, even the lack thereof. Covering up wounds from the public. Beatings so severe that have lasted 30 minutes. Trainers being to to make sure all disciplinary measures are away from the public eye. The list goes on and on. The kicker is the the claims Ringling makes about they adhering to the standards and procedures. In most cases, these are standards and guidelines they are either circumventing when they can, like having inside info on USDA inspections before they happen, or are guides they themselves have created to better suit their needs, such as the Elephant Husbandry Resource Guide. I'm sorry, but it very much sounds like Ringling is pulling the wool over the eyes of the county on this. With all the existing guidelines and regulations that exist both federally and internationally, why would anyone need to create more? We just need to improve the ones we have. Of course the real answer to this is the obvious one...
...now the Elephant Center, on paper sounded like a nice place. An elephant retirement destination spot. Of course there is the TB outbreaks, the removal of young from the mother, the accusation that the animals are only allowed access to a small percentage of the facility, and the idea of artificial insemination for creating circus use animals.
A lot of interesting research study going on there concerning TB as well as Herpes. I'm curious of the TB broke out there or on the road, and how the hell does Herpes happen like that? These animals are no better off then the ones on the road. They have been accused of even chaining the elephants even there and that makes no sense, but considering the breeding grounds aspect this place just gives off, I'm not surprised in this either. One big factory farm of performing animals.
When I started this post today, I knew very little about the history and allegations that have been around for a long time. Granted I am slanted on the side of PETA, I knew enough to know that I didn't agree with whole idea of circuses, I knew about some of the isolated instances of abuse and mistreatment, but when I decided to do more then just scratch the surface I started to better grasp the big picture of whats really going on. Ringling, very much wants to claim they are the standard for how to handle and care for animals. They are a good example of what an "American Institution" can and will do when it abuses it's power, and the system designed to prevent that very act.
This is the Denny's does not see.
Maybe they don't want to as long as it's profitable.
In the end, we all suffer from this, but not like the animals.
I participated in a letter writing campaign launched by PETA against Denny's choice to continue supporting Ringling Bros. Circus. PETA is trying to bring attention to the Ringling's concept of animal welfare. Caging animals for long hours, forcing them to perform tricks, taking them out of there natural environment and claiming it's better, and of course use of hooks.
Here is my letter...
Mr. Nelson J. Marchioli, c/o Ms. Cudd
Dear Mr. Marchioli, c/o Ms. Cudd,
Dear Mr. Marchioli,
I can only assume that you were unaware of Ringling's history of
animal abuse when you agreed to promote the circus at your
restaurants. Please consider a few of Ringling's USDA citations
from last year, which include causing trauma, behavioral stress,
physical harm, and unnecessary discomfort to two elephants;
failure to provide veterinary care to a lame elephant, an
elephant with a swollen leg, and a camel with bleeding wounds;
improper handling of dangerous animals; and failure to maintain
the zebra enclosure. Given this information, please discontinue
your promotion of Ringling.
Sincerely,
Sean Lewis
Sincerely,
Sean Lewis
Pretty much the run of the mill letter template that PETA utilizes right... nothing fancy.
Here the the response...
Denny’s Statement
Before agreeing to partner with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, we spoke with representatives from Ringling Bros. and thoroughly reviewed information about their animal care policies and practices.
We learned that in all aspects of animal care and safety, Ringling Bros. meets or exceeds all federal animal welfare standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act.
Based on our review of the information we received, we are confident that Ringling Bros. provides the highest standards of care for their animals. Please visit www.elephantcenter.com if you would like more information on Ringling Brothers animal care
I find myself curious right off the bat about who they actually spoke with and what particular information they actually received. So I did some homework, on the USDA, PETA, Ringling's past track record, the elephant center, and more.
Interesting, the USDA regulations are vague to say the least in the areas the concern most of the animals that Ringling would have. The basically have to make sure the animal is in good health and not a threat to itself and others. Sounds good, but that opens the door to the question of where the the animals wellbeing in the corporate sense. They could be caged for long periods of time as long as they are feed, watered, and occasionally allowed to stretch there appendages. I'd imagine that would only have to the bare minimum they could get away with. Even to a "layman" these animals, between transport and destination, sound as if they would be caged most of their existence. As long as they get an hour (up to 4 by PETA's count) or so a day to move around, by USDA standards that is acceptable.
The USDA is vague, it's a sad but true reality. Some of which I'd suspect comes from the big cattle industry who wanted to make sure they don't get limited on their existing practices. Some from the way humans look at animals a property and commodity.
Ringling themselves come off as full of it.
They have been accused of a long list of violations, while using double talk to deny it. Beatings, prolonged chaining, caging, and transportation. Animals packed into train cars to a point they can't even lay down?
They are accused of poor training methods, even the lack thereof. Covering up wounds from the public. Beatings so severe that have lasted 30 minutes. Trainers being to to make sure all disciplinary measures are away from the public eye. The list goes on and on. The kicker is the the claims Ringling makes about they adhering to the standards and procedures. In most cases, these are standards and guidelines they are either circumventing when they can, like having inside info on USDA inspections before they happen, or are guides they themselves have created to better suit their needs, such as the Elephant Husbandry Resource Guide. I'm sorry, but it very much sounds like Ringling is pulling the wool over the eyes of the county on this. With all the existing guidelines and regulations that exist both federally and internationally, why would anyone need to create more? We just need to improve the ones we have. Of course the real answer to this is the obvious one...
...now the Elephant Center, on paper sounded like a nice place. An elephant retirement destination spot. Of course there is the TB outbreaks, the removal of young from the mother, the accusation that the animals are only allowed access to a small percentage of the facility, and the idea of artificial insemination for creating circus use animals.
A lot of interesting research study going on there concerning TB as well as Herpes. I'm curious of the TB broke out there or on the road, and how the hell does Herpes happen like that? These animals are no better off then the ones on the road. They have been accused of even chaining the elephants even there and that makes no sense, but considering the breeding grounds aspect this place just gives off, I'm not surprised in this either. One big factory farm of performing animals.
When I started this post today, I knew very little about the history and allegations that have been around for a long time. Granted I am slanted on the side of PETA, I knew enough to know that I didn't agree with whole idea of circuses, I knew about some of the isolated instances of abuse and mistreatment, but when I decided to do more then just scratch the surface I started to better grasp the big picture of whats really going on. Ringling, very much wants to claim they are the standard for how to handle and care for animals. They are a good example of what an "American Institution" can and will do when it abuses it's power, and the system designed to prevent that very act.
This is the Denny's does not see.
Maybe they don't want to as long as it's profitable.
In the end, we all suffer from this, but not like the animals.
3 comments:
I refuse to go to the circus. It's funny how they give out "free" tickets but has to have an adult go too. Some people suck!
Yeah, I agree that is kinda silly. I'm at the point where I can't even fathom going to any event that involves animals without a picket sign anymore.
I sent you an email. It contained this:
You have to check this link out [click here]
I can't believe somebody would do this.
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