More Circus Abuse Revealed, Immediate Greyhound Help Needed

categories: Activism and Actions, Animals in Entertainment, Investigations and Rescues

Published July 22, 2009 @ 03:19PM PT

Two-parter:

1. Given my general position that we should openly criticize what we see wrong in the major animal rights and welfare organizations while also acknowledging the good, in the hope that we'll eventually see a shift in the orgs' philosophy and strategies (and with the realization that they're not going anywhere), someone asked me this weekend what PETA does that I can get behind. "Undercover investigations" was my first answer.

And today PETA released the details, including video, of its latest undercover investigation. The target was Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and the video footage is clear--the elephants are being beaten; there is no other possible interpretation. See the investigation home page for more, including the damning video. Also check out Mark Hawthorne's post at Striking at the Roots for more on the undercover circus investigation as well as ideas on what steps you can take to help end animal use and abuse by circuses. As you may recall, Ringling was sued by a group of animal protection organizations for such abuse, and the closing arguments took place in March. The judge's verdict in that case is expected soon.

2. Grey2K is calling on animal advocates to act immediately to help greyhounds in Rhode Island (regular readers will recall my posting about this issue recently). The group has asked that their urgent alert be forwarded widely, so for the sake of time, I'm going to just give you their message verbatim after the jump (please note, though, that the call for people to contact their state senators and representatives is directed at Rhode Island residents; there are separate instructions in the alert regarding whom non-RI residents should contact):

Your immediate action is needed to sustain Governor Carcieri’s veto of live racing at Twin River. There are 1,200 greyhounds waiting for our help!

As reported previously, Rhode Island’s only dog track declared bankruptcy and announced the voluntary end of dog racing as of August 8. Responding to the appeals of greyhound breeders, state lawmakers then passed a bill to mandate that live racing continue, which Governor Carcieri immediately vetoed.

Now, these same greyhound breeders are asking lawmakers for an override—something we must stop. Let’s make sure greyhound racing ends in New England for good.

Click here to read about Saturday’s successful rally at the Capitol in Providence and then please contact your lawmakers right away.

Please e-mail and call your state senator and your state representative today and ask them to REJECT any proposal for an override of Governor Carcieri’s veto of S 286, Substitute B. Tell them that Rhode Island is the last New England state in which dog racing is legal and operational, and it is time for this cruelty to end.

To identify your lawmakers, click here. Remember to contact your state “Senator in General Assembly” and your “Representative in General Assembly,” not your federal lawmakers.

**If you do not live in the state, please e-mail Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed at sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us and House Speaker William J. Murphy at rep-murphy@rilin.state.ri.us and urge them to support a permanent end to dog racing in the state.**

To read our letter sent to lawmakers today, click here. Several local and national groups, including Defenders of Animals, The Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have signed on to this campaign.

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Comments (5)

So when I got the Grey2K alert I thought: okay, the race is on . . . between Stephanie and Mary for who can post about it first. Congratulations and thank you, on behalf of all greyhounds and two needlenoses in particular.

Posted by Mary Martin on 07/22/2009 @ 04:49PM PT
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Ha! Funny. :)

Posted by Stephanie Ernst on 07/22/2009 @ 04:55PM PT
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Stephanie,

Thanks for spreading the word about the Rhode Island campaign to stop dog racing. The greyhounds need all the help they can get, and GREY2K USA is working closely with local groups including Defenders of Animals, Volunteer Services for Animals, the Humane Association of NW RI and the West Warwick Angels. The Ocean State has many animal friends!

Christine Dorchak, President

www.GREY2KUSA.org

Posted by Christine Dorchak on 07/23/2009 @ 03:06PM PT
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And as for the elephants ... PETA was going to be holding a special protest in Houston (where Ringling is at the moment) this morning to reveal to circus-goers and the local media the contents of its new undercover filming of the wretched abuse of the pachyderms. If I learn of the local reaction to that viewing, I'll let you know.

Posted by Olivia White on 07/23/2009 @ 09:21PM PT
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Yeah, I wish PETA would stick to undercover work, since it's what they do best.

BTW, just got the following notice from PETA:

Our investigation into the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is making waves around the world! And now that we've exposed the horrible treatment that elephants and tigers receive at the hands of Ringling, PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange will be on "Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell" tonight to discuss the details surrounding this historic investigation. Don't miss it!

    What: PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange discusses our investigation into Ringling's abuse of animals.
    When: Tonight, Friday July 24, 7 p.m. EST (and again from 9-10 p.m. and 12 midnight-1 a.m.)
    Where: CNN Headline News (HLN)

For more information about the investigation, please visit RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Even if you can't catch the show, you might want to send a note of thanks to Jane Velez-Mitchell for reporting on PETA's investigation. As far as the MSM goes, Issues is a somewhat animal-friendly show.

Posted by Kelly Garbato on 07/24/2009 @ 02:48PM PT
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Stephanie is an independent animal rights advocate, a vegan, a tree-hugging environmentalist, and a freelance editor and writer. She lives in St. Louis with an aging corgi-lab and an adolescent rescued pit bull.