Speaking up for the animals

A reporter worth her weight in gold would see behind the smokescreen and delve a little deeper into Ringling Bros.’ circus and its systematic torture of animals [“Circus Glam and Glitz,” July 13]. I hope Liane Bonin returns to the circus, undercover, with a camera, to get the real story. As this year’s theme is “Dream Big,” I can only think of these pitiful animals dreaming, one day, to escape this brutality.

KADY LANE

Los Angeles

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Liane Bonin should be ashamed of herself! Did Ringling Bros. pay Bonin a nice sum of money for that fluff piece you printed? She’s all for the “survival of an American institution,” is she? Just because it’s part of history or has always been done doesn’t make it right! Remember slavery, folks? That was a huge part of America at one time as well.

We inflict slavery on all circus animals and most especially elephants. No amount of good intentions or special handling can be translated into humane treatment for these creatures because of their enormous size. The biggest rig in the world still has to fit on a normal road and that is simply not big enough for an elephant.

Anyone with common sense would never attend a circus that uses animals. It’s time the circus business moves into the next century. Not by using a video screen or hip-hop music, but by showing compassion for all living beings.

LIZZA REED GALVAN

Ventura

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Thanks for the update on the Ringling Bros. Circus.

One other “update” you forgot to mention: Ringling now has four open investigations by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, for the deaths of two animals, the videotaped beating of another and an incident last December in which two elephants ran amok.

Ringling has already paid $20,000 to settle USDA charges of failing to provide veterinary care to a dying baby elephant named Kenny and has been cited by the USDA for endangering tigers who were nearly baked alive in a boxcar because of

poor maintenance of their enclosures.

If Ringling really wants to improve its image, it should start by improving how it treats the animals it forces to perform.

LINDSAY POLLARD-POST

Norfolk, Va.

Pollard-Post is a staff writer for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.