Re: Animal-Free Stardust Circus

I am writing in response to Ashley Jenkins’ June 23 article, “Animal-Free Stardust Circus Comes to Bloomington.” It is great to hear Stardust Circus has abandoned its cruel animal acts!

Animals used in traveling acts such as circuses are carted from one town to the next and treated like equipment.

They have no control over any aspect of their lives.

Their eating and sleeping schedules are dictated by handlers, and they aren’t allowed to engage in their natural behavior, such as socializing, roaming and foraging.

Many become listless, sick and depressed.

Laws protecting animals in traveling shows are inadequate and poorly enforced.

The U.S. Animal Welfare Act establishes only minimum guidelines, and even these meager standards are often ignored.

Animals used in circuses cannot fulfill their basic needs to exercise, roam, socialize, forage and play. They are hauled around the country in poorly ventilated trailers and boxcars for as many as 50 weeks per year in all kinds of extreme weather conditions.

A growing number of cities and countries worldwide are restricting or banning the use of animals for entertainment, including Denmark, Finland, India, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.

We’ll continue to monitor Stardust Circus to make sure it doesn’t go back on such a compassionate decision.

Students who want to know more about how animals are abused by circuses and what they can do to help can visit peta2.com.

­— Kenneth Montville, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals