Animal abuse abounds in circus

I am writing with a concern about the State News editorial Royal Hanneford Circus should remain on campus (SN 3/5). I myself am an avid animal rights activist. I do not highly support Peta or peta2, nor do I shun either charity. My goal is to work toward liberty and fair treatment of the animals in our lives. The circus is a case that often is overlooked. Pro-vegetarianism and anti-fur campaigns (being the most popularly supported) draw much of the attention concerning animal rights. In the editorial, the question “What exactly constitutes animal abuse?” is posed, asking if the circus itself was abusive by keeping any animals at all or if people simply were concerned about actual cases of physical abuse.

The answer is both. Many people, myself included, find it abusive to keep an animal for entertainment and show purposes. An animal’s “job” is not to be trained and treated like a toy. All animals on this earth are here to live a full life, be free and procreate, not to amuse others. I also believe that considering the environments in which the circus animals often are kept, animal abuse is inevitable. Small, cramped cages and compartments (which are nowhere near comparable to their wild homes), overstimulation and fear caused by constant noise of the circus staff, its audience and the animals within it, all can lead to physical and mental abuse.

Animal abuse is constant in the circus, and even though the article stated that there seems to be no proof that the Royal Hanneford Circus has abused its animals, this must be taken with a grain of salt. Animal abuse constantly is hidden by the abusers, and this is the reason why the cruelty of the circus is not widely known.

I have been to a circus in the past, and I didn’t like what I saw: sad and pathetic animals pacing their cages prior to their “tricks and talents,” elephants being forced upon stages to do tricks you would find difficult to convince your friends to preform. This is where I got thinking, if I saw this from the exposed end, what goes on behind the scenes? I have done my research, and from what I can gather, the Royal Hanneford Circus does have blood on its hands. From reviews to actual video footage, the elephants are forced onto platforms that are far too small, taught to perform tricks and led around small rings. Even if you may not view this as cruelty, at least please consider that to many, it is. And that this is what is seen from the outside; the worst lies within.

As I end this, I would like to leave you with this one thought: Elephants are great and intelligent creatures. They have been noted using homemade tools, gardening and interacting socially with one another. These great and beautiful creatures have been reduced to doing circus tricks for our selfish entertainment. Think of the elephants, because if we don’t, who will?

Laura Wiseman-Rose,
East Lansing High School senior