Florida Senator fooled by the circus
December 9th, 2008 by admin
Florida Senator Bill Nelson has made some meaningful contributions to help animals during the current meeting of Congress. For example, he cosponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which created felony-level penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting violations. Senator Nelson also signed onto a group letter seeking increased funding for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
But he took a step backward last Tuesday when he visited the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Florida State Fairgrounds where the circus is rehearsing for its upcoming season. Click here to view a photo of Senator Nelson next to an elephant and Ringling’s owner Kenneth Feld.
Washington, D.C. is a big place, and we’re going to give the Senator the benefit of the doubt that he was unaware that Ringling’s animal-care history is riddled with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violations and penalties. At least 25 Ringling elephants have died since 1992! One of these elephants was Kenny, a 3-year-old elephant who was forced to perform even though he was obviously sick; he died shortly after the 1998 performance in Jacksonville. Ringling paid $20,000 to settle USDA charges of failing to provide veterinary care to the baby elephant.
Animals in the circus live miserable lives of deprivation, confinement and abuse. Please contact Senator Nelson and politely urge him not to participate in circus promotions in the future.
Contact:
Senator Bill Nelson
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Fax: (202) 228-2183
Online comment form.