Circus animal abuse a growing concern

Imagine one day you are sitting at home eating dinner with your family when a bunch of men break into your home and take you away. You are then locked in a cage where your only options are to stand or turn around.

When you are finally released from the cage, you are beaten into submission and forced to perform unnatural acts against your will. Now imagine going through the same barbarous routine every day for the rest of your life.
This is just a small taste of the abhorrent life of an average circus animal, which are horribly abused in many ways.

According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), circus animals are often whipped, forced into shackles and tight collars, shocked with electric prods and pierced with bullhooks. Some even have their claws and teeth removed. Many times, these animals do not receive proper veterinary care.
The horrible conditions into which circus animals are forced often cause the animals to display unnatural behaviors.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) has observed the conditions of elephants in traveling circuses. ADI reports that circus elephants spent 60 percent of their time shackled and 25 percent of their time exhibiting abnormal behaviors.
In the most extreme condition, an elephant was seen shackled for 96 percent of its time and spending 70-90 percent of its time swaying back and forth repeatedly and bobbing its head. Head bobbing is the most common abnormal behavioral trait in circus animals.

Since abuse has strong psychological effects on circus animals, there is always a chance that animals will rebel. A week ago, Andrew Anderton, an elephant handler from Florida working with a local circus, tragically died after being kicked by an elephant. According to an article in the Times Leader, Luzerne County Coroner John P. Corcoran ruled that the death was an accident and the elephant did not intend to harm Anderton.
In Defense of Animals (IDA), a nonprofit animal protection organization, disagrees with Corcoran. IDA believes that Anderton's death was not an accident, and that the elephant's reaction was likely a product of abuse.

Not much has been done to prevent animal abuse in circuses, and that needs to change.

The Animal Welfare Act was signed into law in 1966; however, the Act does not really do much at all. The Act specifies minimum requirements for aspects such as handling, housing, transportation, feeding and sanitation. But a major problem with the Act is that it specifically states that handling elephants with sticks and hooks is appropriate.
Even worse, the Act does not protect animals being used for experiments, no matter how painful or unnecessary the experiment may be.

Animal abuse in circuses has been a major problem for years. Thanks to hundreds of animal rights organizations around the world, circus animal abuse is becoming exposed to the public and more people are becoming aware of the revolting abuse being inflicted on circus animals.

If you are looking to take action against circus animal abuse, the easiest way is to boycott circuses with animal performers. There are many circuses that do not use animals and are just as entertaining.