Carson & Barnes Family Circus and other circuses around the world, animals experience suffering in the hands of their trainers, (this includes those beautiful elephants, miniature horses and ponies, bears, big cats, camels, and others). To learn the tricks they perform for us, they have to endure years of being yelled at. being hit by bullhooks, electric prods, whips, or the angry and frustrated hands of their trainers, (like painful lip twists given to the horses).Please Help Suffering Of Animals At Carson & Barnes Circus

Undercover video footage shows Carson & Barnes animal care director Tim Frisco viciously attacking terrified elephants with bullhooks--instruments with sharp metal hooks and tips that resemble a fireplace poker--and electric prods. Frisco instructs other trainers to hurt the elephants until they scream and to sink a bullhook into their flesh and twist it. Frisco also cautions that the beatings must be concealed from the public. A U.S. District Court judge described this video as "troubling" and noted that it depicts conduct that violates the federal Animal Welfare Act.

The use of bullhooks results in pain, suffering, and trauma, often including lacerations, puncture wounds, and abscesses. Although elephants' skin appears tough, it is so sensitive that elephants can feel the pain of an insect bite. Trainers embed the hooks into the elephants' skin and soft tissue areas. Bullhook abuse is routine at circuses, but penalties are rare. Elephants will not be afforded more humane care until communities prohibit these cruel devices.

An elephant's ability to feel pain--as well as sorrow, joy, and happiness--rivals our own. In circuses, every instinct is subject to discipline and animals live a sad life of punishment and confinement. Elephants who reach for a blade of grass suffer a painful blow from a bullhook. A fumbled trick during the show often results in a beating.
We hope you agree that the abuse of animals in circuses is unacceptable. We the undersigned Ask you to make sure this is  the last time that elephants will have to endure the bite of a bullhook in Baytown.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.