Clyde: Ringling Bros. Latest Victim

I just now read the sad and heart-wrenching news about Clyde, one of Ringling Brothers Circus animal prisoners. My heart aches for all the creatures who are kept in confinement when they belong in the wild. Yes, their lives could be incredibly shorter due to many natural events. But, if the animal could choose, I'd have no doubt he'd choose freedom.

Isn't that what our brave young men in uniform are fighting (and dying!) for in Iraq? Freedom?

One day man will look back on how he has treated animals through the centuries and will cover his face and weep in grief, and ask, "How could we have been so callous--so without compassion and respect for fellow beings"?

I hope that day arrives soon. For the sake of all animals, I pray that mankind has a conscious awakening.

May you rest in peace, Clyde.

--Susan Trout
~ a voice for the voiceless ~

I just now read the sad and heart-wrenching news about Clyde, one of Ringling Brothers Circus animal prisoners. My heart aches for all the creatures who are kept in confinement when they belong in the wild. Yes, their lives could be incredibly shorter due to many natural events. But, if the animal could choose, I'd have no doubt he'd choose freedom.

Isn't that what our brave young men in uniform are fighting (and dying!) for in Iraq? Freedom?

One day man will look back on how he has treated animals through the centuries and will cover his face and weep in grief, and ask, "How could we have been so callous--so without compassion and respect for fellow beings"?

I hope that day arrives soon. For the sake of all animals, I pray that mankind has a conscious awakening.

May you rest in peace, Clyde.

--Susan Trout
~ a voice for the voiceless ~

I read with a great deal of sadness about the needless and cruel death of Clyde. Death from hyperthermia and dehydrations in a small confined area is extremely cruel, slow and frightening for any living creature. I can't imagine his last hours.

When is USDA going to wake up and do its job? USDA NEVER takes any case to court, no matter how egregious because that might interfere with the corporation's ability to conduct business. I worked for USDA for 6 years and know about their reluctance to go to trial. I inspected circuses. USDA is in the business of keeping these offenders in business.

The only way to stop these needless deaths is to stop attending circuses.

Peggy W. Larson, DVM, MS, JD
Williston, VT

What a shame. The irony of it all, is that I recently sent letters to all of Ringling Brothers sponsors and asked them to stop supporting them. I received letters back from their sponsors indicating that they trust Ringling Brothers is doing a great job and providing good lives for their animals.

What a great job......How many more animals have to die?

I'm sick. I'm sick for the animals, I'm sick of people trusting Ringling Brothers, and I'm sick of Ringling Brothers getting away with this crap

Shame on the circus. How hard is it to give water to an animal. would you do this to your child? leave it in a hot car with no water? ITS A LIVING BREATHING THING. This animal made you money- it served you well. look what you did to it. irresponsible animal abusers

It is very sad that these types of things are still happening - with all of the protections/laws in place, all it really boils down to is carelessness of the caretakers of the animals, why on Earth would anyone intentionally not give an animal in their care water? Especially when it is very obvious due to desert conditions water is needed more than ever, what the heck were the caretakers of this lion thinking (or not thinking) and why did no one realize the situation, there must be more than one person who cares for the lions within a three period. Perhaps the person or persons involved in this incident should be carted in cages/boxcars across the desert for three days and given just enough water to survive for their punishment - tit for tat, I know it is a barbaric punishment but I bet they wouldn't deprive the lions or other animals of water again.
It is wonderful that the circus has existed for the last several generations so that we were able to see majestic creatures that we may not have known existed but now times have changed and we have the internet and places available to see wild animals (the zoo, or museums, books) So perhaps the circus has had its day.

"our" soldiers are not fighting for freedom they are fighting for strategic placement in the middle east region and obviously capitalist enterprises in a new market like mcdonalds and halliburton.
but there are groups that have been shunned by the main stream activists.
animal liberation front has been active with liberating animals like clyde held captive by the exploiters trying to make a profit at all costs.it is time that people quit trying to associate this ultra humane group fighting(and quite succesfully)against the corporations and people who take use and discard animals with terrorism.
please check out
http://www.animalliberationfront.com
http://www.directaction.info
http://www.animalliberation.net
http://www.shacamerica.net
http://www.sierranevadaearthfirst.org (for fresno)

I will not support them.

it is nice to deem something terrorist,when in fact they do not use violence against a civilian populace,which,in fact,is the real definition of terrorism.if this is true then the united states is a terrorist organization far beyond al qaeda in respect of killing civilians.

now
the animal liberation front has took it up itself to liberate animals that would be washed over by reformists who only want a few extra inches incages and not to test that much on animals.this is terror to animals.i cannot sleep good at night if i didnt know that the alf was saving animals and making life on those who test and vivisect,terrorize and torture a living hell.

reformist tactics,which have proved time and again to be useless and more or less self appeasing to a guilty liberal conscience,do not cease the endless treblinka of animal genocide,to me...reformism of the death machine is,by all,terrorism.
if anyone,with out using the ambigous terminology of the state can describe how the ALF is a terrorist organization?

UNTIL ALL ARE FREE

DERRICK JARRIN

I'd like to know why the article is about lions and there's a photo of a tiger on the top.

You're calling for a boycott of the circus. But I think that if we all attended the circus, they would have more revenue and would therefore be better equipped to provide quality care to their animals. If I am a circus owner with fixed operational costs (transportation, permits, etc.), and people stopped buying tickets, someone is going to miss a meal.

local6.com

Denver Voters Reject Circus Animal Ban

POSTED: 6:59 AM EDT August 11, 2004

DENVER -- The circus is still welcome in Denver -- as are all the animals that go with it. Ban The Circus? Do you think your city should ban the circus from coming to town?YesNo
Denver voters have overwhelmingly defeated a teenager's proposal to bar circus animal acts within city limits.

The city referendum Tuesday was the idea of 15-year-old high-school student Heather Herman. She says she loved circuses as a child but lately has been bothered by the idea of animals traveling the country caged up in train cars.

Her petition drive caught on with help from the U.S. Humane Society and led to a group called Youth Opposed to Animal Acts.

Opponents -- including the company that owns Ringling Brothers -- responded with the Keep-the-Circus-in-Denver Committee. Herman -- who dropped band last year to devote more time to the campaign -- said she had no idea it would become so controversial.

August 11, 2004 08:30 AM US Eastern Timezone

Denver Gives Vote of Confidence in Ringling Bros. and Its Animal Stewardship; Voters overwhelmingly defeat Initiative 100 - the Denver Circus Ban

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 2004--Yesterday Denver voters resoundingly defeated Initiative 100, the proposed Denver "circus ban." Over 71 percent of Denver voters said "yes" to ensuring that generations of Denver families will continue to experience the spectacle of the circus and the joy and wonder of our animal family.

"This is a victory not only for the tradition of the American circus, but for Denver families who have shared in the Ringling Bros. experience for 85 years," said Kenneth Feld, owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(R). "When presented with honest and accurate facts, Denver voters decided to preserve their own entertainment choices while recognizing Ringling Bros.' enduring commitment to animal care and stewardship."

Initiative 100 - which would have solely banned circuses that include animal acts - was put on the primary ballot after animal activist organizations collected the required 6,000 signatures.
"Ringling Bros. believes the Denver vote sends a strong message that Americans reject the activists' agenda that would separate animals from their human caregivers and dictate how people spend time with their families," said Tom Albert, Vice President of Government Relations at Feld Entertainment, parent company of Ringling Bros. "It's because of the strong support and hard work of Denver citizens, the City Council, the Keep the Circus in Denver Committee and countless volunteers that the circus ban was defeated."

Ringling Bros. continues to work with federal, state and local officials to ensure our standards of animal care not only meet, but surpass animal care laws and regulations. As a progressive leader in animal stewardship, Ringling Bros. is continuously reviewing and modifying our animal care practices to ensure our animals' safety and well-being.

As part of the Ringling Bros. circus experience, our Animal Open House invites our guests behind the scenes to observe the exceptional care our animal family receives everyday. In attending Ringling Bros., our guests in Denver and throughout the United States also help support our continued commitment to Asian elephant conservation, breeding and education. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC) continues to be a world leader in breeding the endangered Asian elephant - with 16 successful births at the CEC in just 11 years.

"Ringling Bros. is extremely proud of our long history of bringing The Greatest Show on Earth to the city of Denver, and we look forward to bringing Ringling Bros. to Denver this October and for many years to come," said Feld.

TheDenverChannel.com

Initiative To Ban Exotic Animals In Circuses Fails

Herman Sad About Proposal's Failure, But Proud Of Her Accomplishment

POSTED: 9:03 PM MDT August 10, 2004

UPDATED: 11:39 PM MDT August 10, 2004


DENVER -- A teenager's proposal to ban circus acts in Denver that use exotic animals such as lions, tigers, bears and elephants was soundly defeated by more than a two-thirds margin.

Heather Herman says she's sad about the results of the election but proud of her achievement.

Heather Herman, 15, gathered enough signatures from registered voters to force the City Council to put the question on the August ballot but not enough voters agreed with Initiative 100.

The measure failed 72 percent to 28 percent.

The proposal was meant to protect animals "from cruel and inhumane treatment" and would have exempted the National Western Stock Show, the Denver Zoo and the Ocean Journey aquarium.

"I think voters saw through the greater agenda of the animal rights activists and wanted to maintain their entertainment choice," said Kathryn Works, a campaign manager for the Keep the Circus in Denver Campaign. "The circus has been here in one form or another for 150 years."

Herman, an Arvada High School freshman, said she was overwhelmed with the support she received and has learned a lot about politics.

"In a way, I'm sorta like, 'It's a win-win.' We educated a lot of people, if we don't win, hopefully other cities, even Denver, might attempt to do this again," Herman told 7NEWS.

Gathered at the downtwon Hyatt with her family, friends and fellow Initiative 100 supporters, Herman said that this step is only the beginning of her political career and political interest.

Dan Hanley of Denver for Cruelty Free Circuses said supporters were pleased with the results.

"Right now we're just reflecting on the fact that we brought the huge cruelty abuses from Ringling Bros. to the center," he said. "We think we've raised a huge awareness level that was a voice for the voiceless."

Nearby Boulder and at least 15 other communities around the nation have barred performances involving exotic animals, industry officials have said.

The initiative prompted strong opposition from Feld Entertainment, which operates the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which has performed in Denver since 1919. The company donated $175,000 to the Keep the Circus in Denver Committee, whose members include some city councilors and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, to oppose Herman.

Herman pointed to the recent deaths of two Ringling circus animals as an example of why the initiative is needed.

A lion traveling in a circus train in southern California died in mid-July. An independent necropsy was inconclusive, but other lions traveling in the same train were healthy, Feld officials said. An 8-month-old Asian elephant born to another circus elephant was euthanized earlier this month after fracturing both hind legs in a fall from a 19-inch-high pedestal used in a play yard for animals.

Feld officials have argued that its circus animals are treated well and had invited Herman to visit an animal training facility in Florida. She declined, saying she believed the company would show her only what it wanted her to see.

Rob Sanchez of the Save the Circus Foundation said he expected to fight a similar battle in the next election.

"I think everybody was able to see (Herman's) intentions were good, but that the people she was getting her information from were not quite so genuine," Sanchez said.

"I have nothing but respect for her. She's done something that most kids wouldn't do at that age. That's remarkable," said Pancho Hays, an Initiative 100 opponent.

Herman and a few dozen volunteers raised about $50,000 from contributors including the U.S. Humane Society and earned an endorsement from wildlife biologist Jane Goodall.

In response to the ALF Supporters....Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah...can't you come up with any new or even slightly enlighting rhetoric to try and persuade some of us who believe in the need for animal testing to cahnge our minds. I have heard the same baseless sniveling for years. No matter what you do it will never stop. Burn down this or that and it will be rebuilt with insurance money. Threaten one person and get them to quit, there will be someone else standing behind him/her willing to replace them.