Letter to the Editor

Editor's Note: The circus was in town Tuesday and was in Girard on Wednesday.

To the Editor:

The Carson & Barnes Circus is coming to town, and if caring area residents know more about the cruel treatment of animals used by the circus, they'll think twice before buying a ticket.

A Carson & Barnes animal trainer was caught on video attacking terrified elephants with a bullhook (a rod with a sharp metal hook on the end) and shocking them with an electric prod during an elephant training presentation. To see the shocking footage for yourself, visit www.PETA.org.

In addition to the fine that the circus paid for mishandling elephants as a result of the video and the additional fine it paid after a trailer overturned injuring two elephants, the circus has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failure to provide veterinary care, adequate space and ventilation, shelter from the elements and clean drinking water.

The time is long overdue to stop pretending that animal acts are anything other than cruel exploitation.

Jennifer O'Connor

PETA Foundation

501 Front St.

Norfolk, Va., 23510

(757) 622-7382, ext. 8003