shortordercook Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Elephants Will Retire From Barnum And Bailey Circus March 08, 2015 8:08 AM ET The greatest show on Earth will no longer feature one of its most iconic acts. Starting in 2018, elephants will not be performing in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. http://www.npr.org/2015/03/08/391619589/elephants-will-retire-from-barnum-and-bailey-circus Quote "Occasionally, I am lucky enough to see myself! It is always a great revelation to have a minute of insight that reveals how unimportant are the things I thought so important!" ..myself.
FPCH Admin allheart55 Cindy E Posted March 11, 2015 FPCH Admin Posted March 11, 2015 This should have happened a lot sooner. They abuse those poor elephants. Quote ~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.~ ~~Robert McCloskey~~
shortordercook Posted March 11, 2015 Author Posted March 11, 2015 This may or may not be tremendous news to all here, but it is to me: I worked for Ringling Bros Circus from 1970 through 1972! No elephants? I RODE elephants! They are part of American History! I am stunned.:boohoo: Quote "Occasionally, I am lucky enough to see myself! It is always a great revelation to have a minute of insight that reveals how unimportant are the things I thought so important!" ..myself.
shortordercook Posted March 11, 2015 Author Posted March 11, 2015 This should have happened a lot sooner. They abuse those poor elephants. Yes and no... I never saw an elephant mistreated, but they are forced to live a life not meant for an elephant to live: confinement, chains on legs when not working, ... Quote "Occasionally, I am lucky enough to see myself! It is always a great revelation to have a minute of insight that reveals how unimportant are the things I thought so important!" ..myself.
FPCH Admin allheart55 Cindy E Posted March 11, 2015 FPCH Admin Posted March 11, 2015 Check this out, Cook. http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/infographic.asp 1 Quote ~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.~ ~~Robert McCloskey~~
shortordercook Posted March 12, 2015 Author Posted March 12, 2015 Did that, went there. The one that was most disturbing to me was : http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/PDF/RinglingFactsheet.pdf. As I said, I worked for them for two years. Joined just after high school, at about 18.5 and stayed till it felt like time to settle down, at just short of 20.5 yrs. old... I did not see, ever, the trainers, nor their helpers, nor any animal show groups..(dog acts, etc.).. while I was there, ever mistreating their animals. But I was there in 1970-1972, with the gold unit, and I knew the trainers well. I rode standing on the horses backs, rode elephants, and scratched the lions necks and behind their ears! Their train cars were well cleaned and well ventilated and roomy. They were well fed and groomed. The dogs were so pampered, then, that if I were only a dog...! But they were IN CAPTIVITY! Not natural for an elephant or tiger or lion... Horses are domesticated, and so are dogs and to some degree-monkeys. Again, I never saw anything to suggest any cruel or negative or poor treatment, and vet care was a priority... at that time. The trainers I knew valued their animals and cared for them as if they were babies! After all, they had their entire life spent with these animals, nearly 24/7. There were vets that traveled with the show, as well as teachers for any performers children. Again, all I can state is what I saw at that time, '70-'72, on the unit I was on. It was exceptionally professional, exceptionally!!! Not a carny, not TV or movie falseness, and the lions and tigers, if they were unhappy, didn't show it to me as they rolled over and let me scratch their belly! 2 Quote "Occasionally, I am lucky enough to see myself! It is always a great revelation to have a minute of insight that reveals how unimportant are the things I thought so important!" ..myself.
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