A recent undercover investigation revealed extreme animal abuse and neglect by the traveling circus ShowMe Tigers.
The investigation, described in an article published by The Dodo, found that tigers who disobeyed commands were beaten repeatedly. One circus tiger named Tora was whipped 31 times within a two-minute period, and suffered a wound on her face which was left untreated. Other tigers cowered in fear or ran away from their angry trainers.
The Dodo reports that when the tigers were not performing, they endured continuous confinement in metal cages that were only 4 feet wide by 6 feet long. Astonishingly, two 500 lb. tigers were forced to share one tiny cage. The animals were heard moaning in their cages as temperatures drop below freezing. Caretakers provided no food for the tigers for five of 22 days in which the investigation occurred.
According to Jay Pratte, an animal behavior expert, “The tigers at ShowMe Tigers are suffering from psychological neglect and trauma on a daily basis.”
Please sign this petition urging the USDA to investigate ShowMe Tigers and ensure that such horrific abuse be prosecuted. We will also send a message to ShowMe Tigers expressing strong disapproval of their actions with a request that they retire their tigers and send the animals to accredited wildlife sanctuaries.
Dear Secretary Perdue and Mr. Easley,
We are outraged and disgusted by the extreme animal abuse and neglect that occurs in the traveling circus ShowMe Tigers.
A recent undercover investigation found that tigers who disobeyed commands were beaten repeatedly. One circus tiger named Tora was whipped 31 times within a two-minute period, and suffered a wound on her face which was left untreated. Other tigers cowered in fear or ran away from their angry trainers.
When the tigers were not performing, they endured continuous confinement in metal cages that were only 4 feet wide by 6 feet long. Astonishingly, two 500 lb. tigers were forced to share one tiny cage. The animals were heard moaning in their cages as temperatures drop below freezing. Caretakers provided no food for the tigers for five of 22 days in which the investigation occurred.
According to Jay Pratte, an animal behavior expert, “The tigers at ShowMe Tigers are suffering from psychological neglect and trauma on a daily basis.”
We request that the USDA investigate ShowMe Tigers and ensure that such horrific abuse be prosecuted.
We strongly disapprove of the actions of Mr. Easley and request that he retire the involved animals and send them to accredited wildlife sanctuaries.
[your comments]
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[your name]
