Circus Protests with Grand Rapids for Animals
HSGV members have participated in peaceful circus protests in the Grand Rapids area which are organized by the grassroots organization, Grand Rapids for Animals. When the circus comes to GR, HSGV members and other animal advocates stand outside Van Andel arena and hold signs protesting against circus cruelty and also hand out leaflets with educational information about the treatment of circus animals.
"Grand Rapids for Animals would like to see Grand Rapids become one of the progressive cities that do who not tolerate animal cruelty in entertainment. We want Grand Rapids to be among the growing list of communities that have passed regulations promoting the humane treatment of elephants and other animals used in the entertainment industry." (Retrieved from the GR for Animals website)
Find Grand Rapids for Animals on Facebook and on the web.
Find Grand Rapids for Animals on Facebook and on the web.
The Truth about Animal Circuses: Fact Sheet
(Information retrieved from HSUS, Mercy for Animals, ASPCA, In Defense of Animals, and other organizations)
Circuses pose a threat to public safety.
Animals in circuses have escaped from their enclosures and freely roamed or rampaged, posing a serious threat to public safety and causing major property damage.Public records show that many circuses elephants have a history of tuberculosis and that many have used TB-positive elephants in public performances.
Animal circuses regularly do NOT comply with the USDA Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
Circuses must comply with the AWA and any state or local laws, but these do not provide adequate protections against abuse and are not adequately enforced. All circuses are regularly cited for AWA non-compliance including neglect, injury and death. Officials from the U.S.D.A. (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored physical trauma, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees.
Circuses are entertainment, not education.
Watching animals perform unnatural tricks does not teach children respect or appreciation for animals. Circuses teach children that it's appropriate to exploit and mistreat animals for amusement. No research has shown that attending circuses increases public concern about population status of a species or steps being taken to ensure its survival.
Circuses do NOT conserve endangered species.
Captive elephants are never released into the wild. They are strictly kept for breeding “replacement” animals who will endure a lifetime of chains, cages and cruelty in the circus.
Circuses promote cruel treatment of animals.
Federal and state laws to not adequately regulate circuses, so much of the neglect and cruel treatment goes unreported. Even minimal requirements are not met: animals are deprived of clean water and proper food, clean living quarters and basic shelter. While many people go to the circus because they love animals, most don’t realize that they are supporting an industry that engages in animal cruelty.
Animals do not naturally perform for humans; they must be coerced with force.
Elephants in the wild do not eagerly perform; rather they live in large social herds and walk up to 50 miles/day. Depriving elephants of the freedom to roam and engage in instinctual behavior is inherently cruel.
(Information retrieved from HSUS, Mercy for Animals, ASPCA, In Defense of Animals, and other organizations)
Circuses pose a threat to public safety.
Animals in circuses have escaped from their enclosures and freely roamed or rampaged, posing a serious threat to public safety and causing major property damage.Public records show that many circuses elephants have a history of tuberculosis and that many have used TB-positive elephants in public performances.
Animal circuses regularly do NOT comply with the USDA Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
Circuses must comply with the AWA and any state or local laws, but these do not provide adequate protections against abuse and are not adequately enforced. All circuses are regularly cited for AWA non-compliance including neglect, injury and death. Officials from the U.S.D.A. (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored physical trauma, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees.
Circuses are entertainment, not education.
Watching animals perform unnatural tricks does not teach children respect or appreciation for animals. Circuses teach children that it's appropriate to exploit and mistreat animals for amusement. No research has shown that attending circuses increases public concern about population status of a species or steps being taken to ensure its survival.
Circuses do NOT conserve endangered species.
Captive elephants are never released into the wild. They are strictly kept for breeding “replacement” animals who will endure a lifetime of chains, cages and cruelty in the circus.
Circuses promote cruel treatment of animals.
Federal and state laws to not adequately regulate circuses, so much of the neglect and cruel treatment goes unreported. Even minimal requirements are not met: animals are deprived of clean water and proper food, clean living quarters and basic shelter. While many people go to the circus because they love animals, most don’t realize that they are supporting an industry that engages in animal cruelty.
Animals do not naturally perform for humans; they must be coerced with force.
Elephants in the wild do not eagerly perform; rather they live in large social herds and walk up to 50 miles/day. Depriving elephants of the freedom to roam and engage in instinctual behavior is inherently cruel.
Recent News
September 2012: Article published on examiner.com!
Check out "Grand Rapids for Animals protests animal cruelty at the Van Andel Arena"!
September 2011: Article published on rivergrandrapids.com!
Check out "'Grand Rapids For Animals' Protests Circus"!
Check out "Grand Rapids for Animals protests animal cruelty at the Van Andel Arena"!
September 2011: Article published on rivergrandrapids.com!
Check out "'Grand Rapids For Animals' Protests Circus"!
For more information about the circus visit:
- www.grforanimals.org
- www.aspca.org/circus
- www.humanesociety.org/issues/circuses_entertainment/
- www.bornfreeusa.org/a1a_circus.php
- www.mercyforanimals.org/5outrage03.html
- www.idablog.org/elephants/water-for-elephants-circus-cruelty-is-not-a-thing-of-the-past