Why Ringling Bros. is evil-- actually, just the circus, period.

[crystalviolet35]

Washington Post published a wonderful article today, bringing the Circuses' abysmal treatment of animals, particularly baby elephants, to light. I have personally boycotted all circuses (except Cirque de Soleil ;-P) on this premise. I can't watch a show, knowing how those animals are tortured, starved, abused, etc. It is based off the interviews of

Comments

[wonderpup]

You know what I'm going to say. Please and Thank You.

[msloserrific]

Hahah, nice. =)

(I just wonder why a bunch of people have to make a comment about the LJ cut if a bunch of other people already have. They're going to see the comments at the same time...)

[misatojaganshi]

everyone has to express their outrage over the fact that the OP made them scroll for so long ok! lol XD

[brewsternorth]

...Yeah, I'd cut after the headline. (Maybe you did and something went futz in the markup.)

And yes, Ringling/Barnum&Bailey are widely known as being not good at treating their animals well. I wonder how they're competing with other non-animal circuses such as Cirque du Soleil? IJS. I can't imagine that livestock in the big top have the novelty they used to.

[msloserrific]

Since the LJ-cut thing has already been said, I just want to cosign this. I've never been to an animal-circus (not necessarily due to choice, more due to circumstance) but when I went to see Cirque du Soleil recently, I actually got a thank you note from activists standing outside for patronizing a circus that was animal cruelty-free, and it made me think about it in a way I hadn't before.

Then, I got the opportunity to go to a Ringling Bros. show, and I couldn't...it just felt wrong.

[msloserrific]

Just wondering, does anyone know if Cirque Dreams (I don't think they're affiliated with Cirque du Soleil) uses animals? I did look at the description of the show coming to my area, and it doesn't mention any, but I want to be sure before I buy tickets or anything.

[brewsternorth]

They're definitely not affiliated with CDS. But they likewise don't use animals (I googled and found a review mentioning both facts).

[msloserrific]

Thanks!

[mcnuggets]

This is absolutely horrifying. Also a little surprised they haven't phased animals out of the circus entirely yet- haven't been to one since kindergarten.

[synekdokee]

Tl; dr.