The circus is coming to town, and animals are suffering because of it.
As Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus rolls in to town, the Sacramento SPCA is making its voice heard in opposition to the circus and the living conditions that its animals endure. Due in part to the unnatural and unacceptable travel conditions that are an inherent part of a circus animal’s lifestyle, the Sacramento SPCA is opposed to using wild or exotic animals in circuses, carnivals or other traveling shows.
Among other things, according to evidence obtained from Ringling Bros., elephants are chained in box cars, unable to turn in place, for an average of 26 hours straight, and often 60-100 hours at a time. Circus elephants spend approximately 11 months of the year traveling under these conditions, traveling to more than 40 cities and covering more than 11,500 miles.
“The Sacramento SPCA is opposed to the use of wild animals in circuses and other shows because of the stress, cruelty and physical, social and psychological deprivations that the animals inevitably suffer,” said Rick Johnson, Sacramento SPCA Executive Director. “As an organization, we feel strongly that the traveling conditions that circus animals endure is inhumane, and that alone should prohibit the use of wild animals in traveling shows of any type. We hope that Sacramento will stand up and make their voices heard as well.”
The SPCA, a fixture in Sacramento since 1894, is dedicated to preventing cruelty to all animals and helping to break the cycle of violence in our community through education and outreach.
