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Government Oversight
of Circuses Inadequate
It is nothing more than wishful thinking to claim that local, state
and federal agencies consistently monitor the circus. No government
agency or humane organization monitors training sessions, where much
of the abuse occurs. These agencies also do not observe animals during
transport. Circuses are on the road for most of the year, which means
that animals spend months living, and sometimes dying, in trailers
and boxcars as the circus travels to its next destination.
Federal Law
Animal exhibitors, like circuses, are required to be licensed by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which enforces the federal
Animal Welfare Act (AWA). However, the AWA establishes only bare minimum
guidelines for certain species. The AWA does not protect the horses
and ponies used by nearly all circuses, nor does it protect birds,
reptiles, or amphibians. There is nothing in the AWA that specifically
addresses the special physical and social needs of elephants. The
AWA does not prohibit the use of bullhooks, whips, electrical shock,
or other commonly used devices that cause pain and suffering. With
only about 100 USDA inspectors to regulate nearly 10,000 facilities,
many animal exhibitors go a year or more without an inspection.
State and Local Laws
Although circuses are federally licensed by the USDA, circuses are
not exempt from state and local laws. State and local agencies may
have special permit requirements for circuses, but rarely do they
inspect and monitor the treatment of animals to determine compliance
with local cruelty statutes. PETA routinely encounters situations
where local humane societies will not investigate cruelty complaints
against circuses because they feel that they have little knowledge
of exotic animals and would be unable to place exotic animals if there
were a dire situation that required that they be confiscated. And
circuses get away with a great deal of blatant cruelty because it
either occurs behind the scenes or they have simply moved on to the
next state before a complaint can be investigated. Cruelty to animals
is usually considered a misdemeanor and is not a high priority for
law enforcement.
To help local agencies play a more active role in preventing circus
abuse, PETA has developed a guide, “Basic
Tips for Circus Elephant Inspections,” to assist local authorities
with inspecting elephants. The guide contains information on monitoring
unloading of animals and their performances, checking for signs of
illness and injury, looking for evidence of abuse and neglect, and
reviewing basic husbandry.
You can help stop the suffering of elephants, tigers, and other animals
abused in the name of "entertainment." Click
here to support PETA's vital work.
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"Make 'Em Scream": Watch Standard Elephant-Training Practices
Ringling Bros. Exposed
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