News for Florida animal advocates

Last night in West Palm Beach, ARFF held our first Ringling Bros. protest of the season (visit ARFF’s website for details of upcoming demonstrations). One highlight of the evening was when a car drove by with its windows open, and upon spotting our signs- including our new banner featuring photographs from Ringling’s violent elephant training sessions- a groan came from the back seat, “… now I don’t want to go!”

Unfortunately, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus received some free publicity this week courtesy of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The front page of the Local section of yesterday’s Palm Beach Post featured a photograph of seven members of Station 29 using fire hoses to give a circus elephant a bath.

ARFF has the utmost respect for firefighters and paramedics, but helping the circus sell tickets by participating in this publicity stunt was a boneheaded decision.

“Maintaining the highest state of readiness” is part of Fire Rescue’s mission statement. We wonder what would have happened if a fire had broken out during the photo shoot?

You Can Help
Please contact the Battalion Chief for Station 29, and Palm Beach County’s Fire Chief, and urge them not to participate in circus promotions in the future.

Contact:

Battalion Chief Mark Anderson
E-mail: manderso@pbcgov.org

Fire Chief Steve Jerauld
E-mail: sjerauld@pbcgov.org

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