 "Photo: Leigh Lawson")
Local animal rights activists who oppose the treatment of circus animals hope the circus won't be coming to town next year. As Carson and Barnes Circus opened its gates in McKinleyville Sept. 2, nearly 20 community protesters greeted circus-goers with hand-drawn signs, pamphlets and a video allegedly showing C&B Circus abusing its elephants.
Protester Jason Runyan, president of Humboldt State University's animal rights club, Always Working for Animal Rights and Equality (AWARE), would have welcomed the circus if it didn't use animals in its shows. He believes that when it comes to keeping these animals in captivity, "There's no way to have a humane circus. There's no way to do it right, so there's no compromise."
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is also against Carson and Barnes' presence in Humboldt County. Two weeks ago, the group sent the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors a letter requesting that the county ban a training tool called a bullhook and similar pain-inducing training devices before next year's circus season begins. A bullhook features a metal hook at the end and is used to exert control over the animal. Included with their letter was video footage that allegedly shows a Carson and Barnes animal care director attacking elephants with a bullhook.
"The use of bullhooks results in pain, suffering, and trauma, including lacerations, puncture wounds and abscesses," said PETA's RaeLeann Smith in a press release.
Protester Mara Rigge said animal trainers often say that bullhooks are not used to pierce the elephant's skin. They say the hooks are only used to lead the animals around, much like a person leads a dog on a leash. This image is a false one: in reality, Rigge said, bullhooks are used for punishment. "Trainers use them to hurt [the animals]."
According to the PETA website, Carson and Barnes Circus have been cited several times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violations of the minimum federal standards for animal care mandated in the Animal Welfare Act.
Animal Control officers made a surprise visit to the circus the morning of the shows to check on the animals. Officer Jeanne Fleek said that the animals looked happy, healthy and approachable and had enough shade, space and water. Fleek also checked out the trailers the animals are transported in and said the trailers had a sprinkler water system they could move under if they got too hot. "From what I saw the space was adequate," said Fleek.
Carson & Barnes Circus Superintendent Gustavo Parra said that the protesters didn't care knowing the truth about the circus' animal care practices. Parra said that the propaganda videos they were showing were irrelevant because the videos were roughly 10 years old.
AWARE plans on following up the protest by sending information to larger animal rights organizations and urging legislators to ban traveling animal shows. "Ultimately, the temporary dose of entertainment people get from these performances equates to a lifetime of misery for the animals involved," Runyan said.
Instead, Runyan believes children should watch educational programs like the Discovery Channel to learn more about animals.
"[The circus] is not how children should view wild animals. It's unnatural and deconstructive. It promotes a disregard for life that is deemed different from us."
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