The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), last
week asked the San Benito County Fairgrounds and Galaxy All-Star
Cheerleading to reconsider hosting tonight’s Carson and Barnes
Circus because they say the circus abuses its elephants.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), last week asked the San Benito County Fairgrounds and Galaxy All-Star Cheerleading to reconsider hosting tonight’s Carson and Barnes Circus because they say the circus abuses its elephants.
PETA became furious with the circus after two separate incidents. The nonprofit organization, with roughly 800,000 members, obtained video footage of the circus’ elephant trainers who they say abused the animals with metal bull hooks. In April, a young elephant owned by the circus, Jennie, died from a herpes virus. Carson and Barnes doesn’t deny that the images on the video tape were real, but spokeswoman Brenda Pobre said the trainer no longer works with the animals.
“The public isn’t really aware of what happens behind the scenes,” PETA Spokesperson Nicole Meyer said. “There is nothing educational about seeing the elephants at the circus. The elephants are being forced to perform acts that are not natural.”
Elizabeth Aramante, spokesperson for Galaxy All-Star Cheerleading, said there is no plan to cancel the circus, and she thinks PETA “is going a little overboard.”
“I find it hard to believe that a profitable, multi-million dollar operation would put its greatest assets at risk – their animals,” she said.
Galaxy All-Star Cheerleading of Hollister got involved with the circus as a fund-raiser for it’s programs.
PETA claims in a letter written to both Kelley Ferreira, county fairgrounds manager, and Beatrice Soto, director of Galaxy All-Star Cheerleading, that Carson and Barnes subjected Jennie the elephant to a rigorous training and performance schedule. PETA said the strenuous schedule caused the 5-year-old animal’s immune system to weaken, and ultimately it could not fight off the virus.
PETA also claims the video footage, released in 2002, shows Carson and Barnes elephant trainer Tim Frisco “viscously attacking and shocking terrified elephants…and instructing other trainers to hurt the elephants until they scream.”
Carson and Barnes said in a statement released about the video “the employee who was heard on the video tape making these statements, and using inappropriate language, has been removed from any training responsibilities.”
But Meyer said such animal cruelty isn’t an isolated incident.
“Beatings and extreme confinement are a part of everyday life for animals in circuses,” she wrote in the letter. “We hope that you agree that this abuse is unacceptable and must be stopped.”
Pobre, the circus spokeswoman, said PETA has a political agenda.
“I encourage people to consider the source,” she said. “They’re an extremist group.”
Regardless of PETA’s attempts, the fairgrounds and Galaxy have decided the show must go on. However, both groups said freedom of speech is important, so they will provide a place at the fairgrounds for PETA supporters to speak their minds.
“These are things all fairgrounds are faced with and those people are entitled to speak their opinions,” Ferreira said.
Meyer said a local grassroots organization, Citizens for Cruelty Free Circuses, will be present at the fairgrounds during the shows.
The circus will take place today at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Bolado Park. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, log onto www.carsonbarnescircus.com.
Christine Tognetti can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 330 or at [email protected].
