Animal Awareness / Boumi Shrine Circus

Events

Animal Awareness demonstrated at the Boumi Shrine Circus in Timonium May 30 to June 2, 2002. Details can be found on our past events page.

Letter from Animal Awareness to the Boumi Shrine Circus

May 28, 2002

Boumi Shrine
5050 King Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21237

Dear Shrine Circus Sponsor,

I am writing to you today to express concerns about the Boumi Shrine Circus. The members of your community, as with the rest of the world, are increasingly interested in patronizing establishments whose policies are consistent with their own ethical concerns. The drastically inhumane treatment of the animals used for entertainment by circuses is becoming unacceptable to people who are aware of the inherent cruelty.

You may not be aware of the many disturbing violations from some of the Shrine Circus exhibitors. I am aware that all of your animals are leased from these exhibitors and that the Shrine Circuses do not have their own exhibitor license. Every exhibitor that leases their animals to Shrine Circuses does indeed have many violations. If you check into these outside companies from which you lease your animals, including Tarzan Zerbini Circus, George Carden Circus, Jordan World Circus, Hawthorn Corporation, Royal Hanneford Circus, Franzen Bros. Circus, and Circus Hollywood, then you will find many inhumane violations (details below).

A frightening report about the Shrine Circus exhibitor, Tarzan Zerbini, was reported on www.circuses.com. A 27-year-old Tarzan Zerbini circus worker, who had been drinking, was hospitalized in serious condition after he was attacked by an elephant who had broken free of her shackles in Duluth, Minn., where the circus was performing for the Shriners Circus. Another elephant trainer admitted that the elephants had been beaten badly by drunken trainers and were wary of people with alcohol on their breath. The trainer also commented, "There are probably more people killed and injured by elephants than by any other exotic animal."

There have been many terrible incidents by Tarzan Zerbini animals (as with all of your exhibitors), even involving injury to the spectators. A bear bit off the tip of a 2-year-old child's finger in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Tarzan Zerbini employee was critically injured when an elephant stepped on her and crushed her pelvis in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Three children were injured during elephant rides in Michigan. Nine people were injured in Lafayette, Indiana when elephants collided and caused a barricade to come toppling down. There are many more examples. Do you really want to risk more injury to the public? These animals have been abused so badly over the years that they could again lash out during a performance.

The USDA rarely follows up even when hard evidence of abuse is found because no one is there to witness any abuses as it happens, making it difficult to prove how and from whom the animal received the injury. Even when the USDA does write up the circus for violations, the circus continues to operate the same way because current legislation is weak. They are fined a small fine but nothing more. An example that describes this perfectly happened in May 1, 2001. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., two George Carden Circus employees pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals charges in provincial court in St. John's, Newfoundland, and each was fined $200. The charges were brought after investigators found that the bears were kept in filthy, undersized cages for 23 hours a day. The judge stated that he wished the legislation were stronger so that he could penalize the defendants more and suggested that people stay away from the circus. Therefore, it is up to conscientious establishments such as yours to address this issue by not supporting the use of animal acts in entertainment.

In addition to years of agonizing mental and physical torment caused by abusive training techniques, the mere fact that oftentimes circus animals (including elephants) are kept shackled for up to 23 hours a day, induces a lifetime of misery. The fact is that no government agency or any humane organization monitors the training sessions of circus animals. Whips, chains, bullhooks and muzzles all bear testimony to the brute use of force that is implicit in any circus involving wild animals. Visit CircusWatch.com to find out why ex-Ringling Bros. employees like Tom Rider have now dedicated their lives to fighting for these noble, magnificent, and suffering animals.

Although the circus on the outside seems colorful, fun, and happy, what people are really buying is a ticket to a lifetime of suffering, despair and unthinkable hopelessness for animals. In order for a family to have just one afternoon of entertainment, animals suffer for a lifetime. Their only hope is for compassionate citizens everywhere to go to non-animal circuses like Cirque Du Soliel, which relies on the talents and abilities of willing participants.

I have enclosed a list of animal-free circuses that travel throughout the United States. I recommend that you follow their lead and also realize that your circus can still be very successful with only human acts, just as with these wonderful animal-free circuses. Plus, without cruelty being an issue at your performances, you will actually be able to attract a much larger audience since there will be no reason to stay away from your circus. If you eliminate animal acts, I'll be the first in line to bring my entire family to the show.

I encourage you to check out the companies from which you lease your animals. It will help you to reconsider using animal acts in your shows.

Tarzan Zerbini Circus: http://www.circuses.com/facttarzerb.html

George Carden Circus: http://www.circuses.com/factcarden.html

Jordan World Circus: http://www.circuses.com/factjordan.html

Hawthorn Corporation: http://www.circuses.com/facthawthorn.html

Royal Hanneford Circus: http://www.circuses.com/factroyalhanne.html

Franzen Bros. Circus: http://www.circuses.com/factfranzen.html

Circus Hollywood: http://www.circuses.com/facthollywood.html

Sincerely,

Janet Deery
Animal Awareness