Letter To PETA / The End Of Barnum And Bailey Circus...

Through no fault of their own, 600+ people employed by Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Circus will soon be unemployed.  Ringling's veterinarian staff will probably find work elsewhere.  The folks that put up and take down tents might luck up on a job moving rental equipment.  But a small percent of these people are ringmasters, aerialists, acrobats, animal trainers, and clowns--all of which are highly skilled entertainers,  most at the top of their field.  Sadly, none of their remarkable skills will help these poor folks find employment--not with today's economy, not in today's job market.  The biggest percentage of circus employees are the hard-working vendors--the ticket takers, the snack and souvenir sellers..  Unfortunately, there is little or no demand elsewhere for their skill--in spite of their years of experience and job dedication. All of their careers are over, their job prospects are none--thanks to PETA.

Most of these circus employees live in small furnished apartments in the Ringling railroad cars.  When they lose their jobs (along with their medical coverage), they also lose their homes.  So along with their families, their children, and their pets, they are facing imminent homelessness, followed by destitution and hunger.  Let's face it--without a permanent physical address, they can't even sign up for unemployment.  Or welfare.  Or food stamps.  So no job.  No income.  No home.  No medical coverage. Their future is nothing but grim--thanks to PETA

And what will happen to the elephants that PETA has fought so long to "free"?  Ringling Bros. had a wonderful plan for retiring them--in a beautiful natural area on their own property in Florida, where they could be studied for educational and conservation purposes...But with no income from the circus to fund it, chances of that  plan coming to fruition are looking slim.  More than likely, the intended property will be sold along with the other circus assets.

What will happen to the elephants then?  They couldn't be released in the wild--they're domestic animals that were born in captivity...They could not survive in their natural habitat. They can't be sold to private homes--even if you could afford their feed, housing, and veterinary care,  laws surely prohibit private ownership of any exotic animal as large and potentially dangerous as an elephant.  So where does PETA suggest the elephants go?  To even smaller circuses, where living quarters are even smaller, hay is often moldy, feed is sometimes scarce, handlers are not always trained, and veterinary attention is non-existent?  Not to mention the elephants will then be right back in the same situation PETA supposedly "rescued" them from.  In reduced circumstances, these elephants will face hunger, medical neglect, and abuse--thanks to PETA.

 Possibly one or two elephants might find a home in a zoo, where food is more plentiful and medical care available... But will these lucky few be happy, separated from the other circus elephants--losing their "family",  their companions, the only "herd" they've ever known?   Will the zoo's elephants accept these newcomers--or will they be run off from the herd, shunned by the rest, forced to live a life of  loneliness and solitude?  Their outlook is bleak--thanks to PETA.

The other circus animals will fare no better...The lions and tigers will face a similar fate as the elephants.  Their horses and ponies?  They're trained to work in a small ring, ridden bareback as a vaulting horse or else performing tricks without a rider. These are intelligent, well-trained animals, but this is the only work they know how to do.  Re-training a horse is timely and expensive.  With horses being both cheap and plentiful, "retired" circus horses have very little chance of finding a good home....

 These noble, beautiful horses will  leave behind a life of glamour...A life with loving attention, plentiful food, daily grooming and proper exercise. A life that most horses only dream of.  Unfortunately, once the circus closes, these horses will face the same sad fate as the majority of today's horses...Most will pass through a long succession of owners,  with treatment and living conditions steadily worsening as they age. Some will die of starvation, some will be worked until they break down.  Eventually they will most likely be sold for slaughter.  All as a result of the original owners losing their very livelihood, leaving them unable to keep them no longer.  Again, thanks to PETA.

So I have to ask PETA--

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD ULTIMATELY HAPPEN TO THE ANIMALS ?!
 DID YOU REALLY THINK THIS THROUGH?!

 Regardless of the thought you put into this,  you got what you wanted...the circus animals--as well as the circus-- will soon be gone.  Their lives-- and all ours--will be infinitely poorer for their going.

THANKS TO YOU, PETA.

*NO, I am not anti-animal rights.  And NO, I am not an animal abuser.  I am a farm owner and a  caretaker of animals, as I have been for the past 25 years.  During that time, I have had the pleasure of knowing and caring for :  14 horses, 9 dogs, 17 cats, 14 chickens, 5 rabbits, 2 goats, and 1 sheep. Our dogs and cats are spayed or neutered. We don't sell our horses, we don't eat our chickens. We take in strays. All our animals have been happy, healthy, well fed, well cared for, and very much loved.  From closely watching Barnum and Bailey Circus over the years, I have concluded that their animals are cared for much the same as my own.

**As far as whips, hooks, chains, or restraints:  Have you PETA people ever raised or handled a young horse (much less a young elephant)?  Try leading one ANYWHERE without the restraint of a halter or lead rope.  Even with a halter and lead, you'll get dragged around a little... feet get stepped on, the occasional toe is broken.  Not because the horse is bad, but because he's young and untrained.  To train him, you need a whip (not to beat him but to move him away from your feet) and a chain under his chin (not to injure him but to apply enough pressure to stop him from dragging you).  A young horse with no discipline or restraint will unintentionally hurt you--possibly even kill you.  So will an elephant.