To the editor:

The “conservation card” continues to be played in an ill-attempt to justify their pseudo “Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation” which is nothing more than a breeding and “training” facility.

If you’ve ever wondered how they get an 8,000 pound elephant to perform the ridiculous stunts you see - this is where it starts, with baby elephants ripped away from there mothers to endure cruel, violent, painful training sessions using ropes, bullhooks, and electric shock prods. Warning: Graphic http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp.

The “spin tactics” used in this article will never conceal the overwhelming evidence and documentation of the abuse animals endure in circuses, as well as the $270,000 settlement fine paid by Ringling Bros. for “alleged” violations of the Animal Welfare Act - the largest ever assessed to an animal exhibitor by the USDA. http://www.ad-international.org/adi_usa/go.php?id=2493.

The abuse, exploitation, cruelty and neglect animals are subjected to in circuses and traveling shows are horrific and heartbreaking. http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/PDF/RinglingFactsheet.pdf.

If you respect animals and care about their welfare, please do not attend, employ or promote circuses that use animals. For the few minutes you see animals “performing” they suffer a lifetime of inhumane confinement, abuse and cruelty.

Visit Break The Chain http://breakthechainus.com/ to learn more about the campaign to bring an end to circus animal suffering in the USA, and how you can support The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, H.R. 3359, a bill introduced by Congressman Jim Moran, that is extremely vital to the lives of these animals and to ending this cruelty.

Dee DeSantis