In regard to your front-page photo July 26, I am compelled to write this letter on behalf of all people who truly care about animals and animal abuse. Even more importantly, this letter is for the magnificent animals themselves, and particularly those imprisoned by touring circus companies.
Forcing naturally proud and beautiful tigers to jump through rings of fire is totally unnatural and cruel (would you care to try it?). This photo did not belong on any page of The Herald – let alone the front page.
All circus animals live a life of hell. Elephants, gentle giants, extremely social beings in their natural environment, live in extended families. They mourn and cry like humans when a family member dies naturally or is killed by human interference. Imagine living the majority of your life with your legs chained together while traveling from town to town in a cramped trailer, alone with no family and only briefly, for a few moments, unchained to “perform” captive entertainment. The general public never sees behind-the-scenes “training” sessions with sharp hooks and electric prods that frighten and hurt – they are common practice in these circumstances.
Circuses are not fun, they are not entertainment and the public should not be deceived any longer. Next time, we hope The Herald steps up to help prevent animal abuse, not help to promote it.
Snohomish
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