tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post1659396848656772233..comments2023-12-04T10:49:20.628-05:00Comments on Possumlady Place: Taking a Standpossumladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08060146825196164963noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-84924978886972035942009-03-01T13:16:00.000-05:002009-03-01T13:16:00.000-05:00Let me paste a part of a letter from Carol Buckley...Let me paste a part of a letter from Carol Buckley, Founder of the Elephant Sanctuary. <BR/>********<BR/><BR/>The number of documented abuses of elephants in circus is staggering. Of the thirty-six circuses permitted to operate in Tennessee over the past three years, nineteen have had performing elephant acts. Every one of those elephant acts has been cited by the USDA for Animal Welfare Act violations. The Elephant Sanctuary has prepared a document summarizing USDA citations and complaints filed with local authorities against these circuses. This document encompasses 52 pages with each incident described in a short paragraph. <BR/><BR/>Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus and Hawthorn Corporation top the list, with more than 80 citations each between 1992 and 2002—twice the number of the third circus on the list. Citations include failure to provide adequate veterinary care, failure to provide minimum space to elephants stored in transport trailers, elephants chained by two legs, keeping elephants in solitary confinement, working a full-term pregnant female four days before the birth of her calf, and incidents of physical violence against elephants. These include a circus employee kicking an elephant in the face and stabbing it twice, serious chemical burns from a foot-soak of undiluted formaldehyde, and vicious attacks on elephants using elephant hooks and electric shock devices, one such incident by the circus’s own director of animal care. This last incident is supported by undercover video footage available on videotape or on-line at http://designer.tappedinto.com/elephantbill/index.cfm <BR/><BR/>Circus elephants are transported in semi trailers and train cars, chained by two legs when in transit from city to city. Travel from one booking to the next can be quite long, sometimes over 1,000 miles. Circus schedules document the time elephants spend confined and chained while en route. According to one circus’ advertisement, elephants remain in their train car for the duration of the move and are not allowed off chains or the opportunity to exercise until arriving at their destination. “Stock car stops are made during travel to feed and water the animals and to clean out their cars. The animals are unloaded from the train upon arrival.” USDA inspection reports show that circuses have been repeatedly cited for trailers in poor repair and lack of proper ventilation. <BR/><BR/>In addition to concerns about elephant welfare, performing elephants can pose a risk to public safety. The list of USDA citations includes incidents such as failure to have elephants under the supervision of a knowledgeable handler while children and adults were present, failure to maintain safety barriers between elephants and the public, allowing elephants infected with a human strain of tuberculosis to perform and give rides to children, and failure to complete required testing of elephants and elephant handlers for TB. There are also incidents of rampage where elephants have killed handlers and seriously injured bystanders.<BR/><BR/>Although only a partial list, these incidents illustrate three important things—circuses have not taken good care of elephants, they have exposed unnecessary risk to the public and they have not followed existing rules<BR/><BR/>******possumladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060146825196164963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-62009831783654501392009-03-01T12:25:00.000-05:002009-03-01T12:25:00.000-05:00Dear Anonymous, please state where you get your fa...Dear Anonymous, <BR/><BR/>please state where you get your facts that most circus animals are not treated that way. Just look at the Elephant Sanctuary's website and look at the background of the elephants they have rescued. Yes, some came from zoos, but many came from circuses and have horrific injuries either from trainers or from other animals that were never taken care of properly. Even with out all the injuries, do you really believe that keeping wild animals chained for up to 22 hours is not abuse?? <BR/><BR/>Please look at the background for Tina, one of the lucky ones that The Elephant Sanctuary took in. Most elephants develop severe arthritis in their feet from standing on hard surfaces all day long and not having the ability to walk the 15-30 miles a day that their bodies were designed for. Tina developed osteomilitis in her feet. A terrible bone disease. How was she treated? By having her stand in vats of formaldehyde where she developed severe burns on her feet so that she could barely walk. <BR/><BR/>Please give me some facts I can work with here. Also a name or moniker would be nice. It is very easy to hide behind the veil of anonymity here in the blogsphere.possumladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060146825196164963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-89244280464859492832009-02-26T21:08:00.000-05:002009-02-26T21:08:00.000-05:00Oh las794 you made my day! I honestly believe that...Oh las794 you made my day! I honestly believe that if every decent person found out what was going on in the circus industry, wild animals acts would be a thing of the past. Now, you just need to spread the word...<BR/><BR/>Thanks everyone for your support. It's so easy for the pr machine of the circus industry. All they have to do is smirk, shake their heads and paint everyone that is against wild animal acts as a crazy animal rights nutjob. <BR/><BR/>Thanks also Donna for the Burke quote. I do love that one and have to remind myself of it often.possumladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060146825196164963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-26195207286781287582009-02-23T22:48:00.000-05:002009-02-23T22:48:00.000-05:00Christine--GOOD FOR YOU. I am standing up and CHE...Christine--GOOD FOR YOU. I am standing up and CHEERING FOR YOU ALL THE WAY.<BR/><BR/>You go girl.<BR/><BR/>"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke<BR/><BR/>And I would add--good women. You are a GOOD woman!KGMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05165941950953938943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-23829295619885656932009-02-22T21:46:00.000-05:002009-02-22T21:46:00.000-05:00Christine,I saw Tarra and Bella a while back. It ...Christine,<BR/><BR/>I saw Tarra and Bella a while back. It was so heartwarming and sweet.<BR/><BR/>I know you feel much better now. Your friend did you and so many others a great service - just keeping them informed instead of ignorant.<BR/><BR/>Good job!<BR/><BR/>Now, take care of that headache.<BR/><BR/>MaryMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-38901321392121469302009-02-22T18:11:00.000-05:002009-02-22T18:11:00.000-05:00I'm proud of you Christine for standing up with yo...I'm proud of you Christine for standing up with your beliefs.Lynne at Hasty Brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-60681950551451113632009-02-22T09:39:00.000-05:002009-02-22T09:39:00.000-05:00I love the odd couple video. And bravo to you for...I love the odd couple video. And bravo to you for sticking to your guns and standing up for what you know is right. I'm sure that your efforts were very appreciated by many.<BR/><BR/>It always makes me so sad to read about attacks (like the recent chimpanzee attack) by wild animals that should never have been in that position to begin with.Dog_geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797650391128520269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335571259608101671.post-69799303415864819122009-02-22T09:23:00.000-05:002009-02-22T09:23:00.000-05:00I didn't realize circus animal treatment was so ba...I didn't realize circus animal treatment was so bad--thanks for enlightening everyone. And the video was priceless!las794https://www.blogger.com/profile/04876140138176511257noreply@blogger.com