John Pugh, Director
Cole Bros. Circus
P.O. Box 127
Deland, FL 32721-0127
ph: 386-736-0071
website: http://www.colebroscircus.com
Dear Mr. Pugh,
Kudos to the Cole Bros. Circus for its responsible and humane decision to replace exotic animal acts with human dazzlers such as Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk and others. As you know, animal act bans are on the rise nationwide. A strong repertoire of skilled human performers will enhance your visibility and longevity at venues across the country.
The retirement of performing animal is a positive safeguard for animals and humans. Over the last 15 years captive “big cats” attacked humans at least 123 times. Thirteen episodes led to human death. Since 1990, rampaging captive elephants caused 65 human fatalities.
However, I remain concerned about Tina and Jewel, two elephants still under Cole Bros. contract to perform at fairs and other venues. Most of their lives have been devoted to entertainment, traveling in boxcars shackled and chained. Tina and Jewel deserve to savor relative freedom in a natural setting with other elephants. Please retire both elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the Performing Animal Welfare Society in California.
In the past, two Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers’ Circus elephants, Conti and Pete, died within two weeks of each either. Another CBCB elephant, Helen, was forced to give rides with a disabled knee that popped out when she walked. Helen’s visible pain prompted the New Jersey SPCA to file cruelty charges.
Wild animals are simply not designed to perform unnatural tricks before human audiences. In fact, trainers must keep them “constantly in pain or in fear of pain” to subordinate them, according to Tufts University veterinarian Paul Waldau. As a result, circuses “train” wild animals with bullhooks, chains, muzzles, cinch collars, shock prods, axe handles, baseball bats, metal pipes and whips.
Cole Bros. Circus has made great strides to do the right thing. Please withdraw ALL of your performing animals—with the release of Tina and Jewel to a sanctuary.
Thank you,