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If you like animals you should stay away from this circus.
From: Change.org at http://news.change.org/stories/success-usda-cracks-down-on-cole-brothers-circus
Cole Brothers Circus will be coughing up a big chunk of cash soon, thanks to a complaint by In Defense of Animals. The circus' nearly $160,000 in fines comes after four years of investigation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
That investigation determined that Cole Brothers and their owner, John Pugh, violated the Endangered Species Act when they sold two elephants to trainer Will Davenport.
An ESA violation is nothing to sneeze at, and Cole Brothers got what they deserved. Those two elephants, Tina and Jewel, were used by the Circus (after the sale to the trainer, Davenport) for several years. By the time the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after numerous complaints from In Defense of Animals, seized Jewel in 2009, both elephants were dangerously underweight and suffering from foot abscesses and dental issues. Will Davenport voluntarily surrendered Tina to the USFWS after Jewel was rescued, and today both elephants are recovered and living a better life at the L.A. Zoo.
If you're interested in the legal side, here's what IDA has found out. In 2006, Cole Brothers sold the two elephants to to Davenport, a clear violation of the Endangered Species Act. Asian elephants like Tina and Jewel are endangered, and you've got to have a special permit to sell them. Cole Brothers, obviously, didn't. The circus, along with Davenport, also appears to have conspired to keep the shady deal under wraps, covering it up with a lease deal.
In addition to some hefty fines, the circus and its owner face a few years of probation and some mandatory community service. I'd suggest starting by making them muck out some cages at the local zoo, but then again, history tells us you don't want these guys anywhere near animals.
Things are better for Tina and Jewel, and there's potentially some even better news. A few months ago, I wrote about another serious problem with Cole Brothers Circus. They've been cited and punished a few times by the USDA for problems with their big cats act. In Defense of Animals has been pushing this issue as well, filing numerous complaints with the USDA, and alleging that Cole Brothers has been a willing participant in allowing a disgraced trainer (he had his exhibitor's license yanked in 2009) to continue to rake in profits for providing cats to the circus.
The story of Tina and Jewel tells us two things. First, Cole Brothers is very much on the USDA's radar lately. Second, the feds don't seem to have a problem with cracking the whip on the circus.
Let's hope they don't, because those cats need the USDA. You can help too, by calling on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to investigate Cole Brothers for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and if the circus has been skirting the law, punish them.
TONY
June 16, 2011 20:55:09 (EDT) |
Think about this people.......Do you really think it's ok that animals live this way ?
Cramped into trailers and mistreated for your
entertainment?
You are all ignorant if you think this is ok !
I love the circus,can't wait to see all the animals. If you don't like it don't go,some people enjoy it.Why ruin it for the people that want it.
Cheryl
June 16, 2011 09:30:02 (EDT) |
yup, I can't help but feel sad and angry about this Circus coming to town.If this anger has been directed towards the wrong group of people than I'm sorry.
But Plain and simple.......Circus' are cruel and dangerous.
They teach nothing more than a life of confinement with submission insisted on by a whip or a hook.
Benny Benson:)
June 15, 2011 21:42:02 (EDT) |
Sure is a small handful of very angry people on here..trying to speak for many. What will they do with themselves in a few days when it's all over? Then maybe everyone can go back to to all those happy thoughts of Bensons.
I don't understand why so many people are badgering the Benson's Park Committee about the circus coming to town? It would seem to me that a public awareness effort to help boycott the event would make more sense.Or aim your concerns toward the town. Don't get me wrong.Since hearing about this I've googled the circus and found enough disturbing info to agree with those against it.But I'm a past employee of the park and I can assure anyone that anything pertaining to the mistreatment of animals would never be accepted by one of "ours".
Cheryl
June 15, 2011 14:18:38 (EDT) |
Thanks for the committee info.The Benson Park Advisory Committee is there to give advice?
To who ?
The best advice should be......NO CIRCUS in Hudson or anywhere !!!!
They are and should be a thing of the past !
Please Stop this from happening.
TONY
June 15, 2011 09:28:42 (EDT) |
Send these coments to the Nashua Telegraph !!!Send them now !!!
There is still time to make a difference !!!!
PLEASE stop this circus from happening in our town. All circuses are bad, but this one is an abomination. It took about .5 seconds on Google to see the true nature of this enterprise. And what you will find aren't just complaints from patrons (although those are plentiful too), these are huge fines from the USDA and USF&G for multiple violations. The most recent being in January 2011 for knowingly violating the Endagered Species Act. The bottom line is when you are using animals for human entertainment, their needs and wants are not being put first. Circuses are archaic and inherently cruel to the animal "performers" This will bring shame to our town. I thought we were better than this in Hudson.
Hello,
I would like to ask that the Town of Hudson ban together with Benson's as well and protest this circus from coming into our town!! They abuse the animals as well as have over 160,000.00 in fines from the USDA!! Please don't help them out by allowing them to perform in our town!! I hope anyone out there reading this will step up as well as protest the coming of this animal torture they are calling a circus...
Thank you,
Mia
Benson Park Committee
June 14, 2011 15:13:39 (EDT) |
Just to clarify, the only "committee" that the Town of Hudson created for Benson Park is the " Benson Park Advisory Committee " that being said the above mentioned town committee had nothing to do with the sponsoring of the Cole Brothers Circus of the Stars coming to Hudson, NH June 18 & 19.
TONY
June 14, 2011 07:44:14 (EDT) |
The fact that animals are forced into this life of leg chains and trailers is more than abusive.
It's cruel and unusual punishment.
Knowing that Cole Brothers has been cited and fined for so much abuse, makes it just plain wierd that this committee hired them !It's creepy that this is happening !!!!!!
SHAME on all of you !
Linda
June 14, 2011 00:28:24 (EDT) |
There are other ways to fundraise rather than hiring a circus that abuses animals. This is very sad that you have hired Cole circus.
Ann
June 12, 2011 11:13:17 (EDT) |
Due to unpredictable weather - today's Mal's Pals Official Kick Off Party has been relocated to the Hudson Community Center (formerly Lions Hall) on Lions Ave, Hudson, NH. Event
Ann
June 12, 2011 11:12:06 (EDT) |
Due to unpredictable weather - today's Mal's Pals Official Kick Off Party has been relocated to the Hudson Community Center (formerly Lions Hall) on Lions Ave, Hudson, NH. Events start at 1PM.
Ann
June 9, 2011 21:49:07 (EDT) |
Mal's Pals Official Kick Off Party - Sunday, June 12 -
1PM to 3PM.
Music will be provided by Alvirne High School Band. Bring you chair and a picnic lunch ... and join the fun.
Info will be available on the Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser.
Cheryl
June 7, 2011 07:21:47 (EDT) |
For your next fundraiser,
please try to think of something else besides what's
coming up.Circus' really are a thing of the past.
It's not fair to these beautiful animals !
And it's not safe for the public.
You are a dedicated group,
find another way...........
Made a trip to Bensons while we were up north this week, Congrats to all involved in the ongoing changes. Cindy and Ann met us well so that made it even better. Once again relived many memories. Gill and Chris were with us also their first trip back to "home". Got to see Dennis also just needed more time but was fun !!
Ryan, thank you for your support.
Anyone else looking for more details about supporting Benson Park can grab one of our new brochures from the parks Kiosk at the main entrance parking lot or download a copy:
" http://www.friendsofbenson.org/Benson's Trifold proof.pdf "
-Dana
Tony
May 28, 2011 20:29:28 (EDT) |
To bad all those wonderful volunteers are resorting
to a circus to help with the effort.There's got to be a better way !
Hope Hudson isn't the place where an elephant snaps and hurts someone ! Can't blame them, but for some reason
people call them bad, instead of mistreated to the brink of
outrage !
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