Urge Gov. Doyle to Boycott The Great Circus Parade

On July 8, 2009, PETA sent a letter to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle urging him to agree not to participate in The Great Circus Parade on July 12, 2009. A recent report by Wisconsin Radio Network mentioned the governor's plans to be part of the parade. The Great Circus Parade is just one part of a week-long 50th anniversary celebration of Circus World Museum, a museum that honors circuses that have abused animals for hundreds of years.

In our letter, we urged Gov. Doyle to consider the plight of the elephants with Kelly Miller Circus, who will be performing at Circus World Museum's Festival Showgrounds, and watch video footage of Carson & Barnes Circus, the current supplier of elephants for Kelly Miller's shows. The undercover video footage shows Carson & Barnes animal care director Tim Frisco as he viciously attacks terrified elephants with a bullhook%u2014a sharp, steel-tipped device that resembles a fireplace poker%u2014and an electric prod. 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.

Gov. Doyle should not be using his elected office to promote an industry that forces animals to perform confusing tricks under the threat of punishment and spend their lives confined to cages or chains.
Please ask Gov. Doyle not to participate in The Great Circus Parade.