Lions and Tigers and Bears—Oh No! Catnip and Hairballs Casey Goes to Bat Rebels With a Cause

When Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Norfolk, Virginia, 7-year-old Gabriella Enstice couldn’t wait to go—to protest!

So what should you do if you find out your class is going on a field trip to the circus? Speak out! Talk to your teacher about your concerns—no doubt others in your class feel the same way. Cities all over the U.S., from Hollywood, Florida, to Redmond, Washington, have banned animal acts out of concern for the safety of the public and the animals. If you and others speak up, your teacher might scrap plans to go to the circus—or agree to go to one that’s animal-free. (If you’re not sure if a circus uses animals, you can call PETA at 757-622-7382 or visit Circuses.com.) Your class could also give animals a helping hand by spending the day at the beach cleaning up discarded fishing tackle and other life-threatening trash. Or suggest an educational field trip like going to an art museum or your local newspaper’s printing plant.

• Go to circuses with human performers only, such as Cirque Ingénieux, Cirque du Soleil, the New Pickle Family Circus, and Circus Oz. They feature only fun—no animal abuse.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and tell readers how animals suffer in circuses. Most people like animals and don’t want them to be hurt. Your printed letter may convince many readers to stay away from circuses.

• Address your school board at a monthly meeting. It’s easy and fun! We can help you prepare and give you copies of our new brochure,“Three Important Reasons Not to Take Children to the Circus.”

• Find out other ways to help animals in circuses by writing to PETA or by visiting Circuses.com.

Growing numbers of kids—and their parents—are picking up protest signs after learning that animals suffer big–time cruelty under the big top.

After witnesses reported seeing Ringling’s elephant trainer, Mark Oliver Gebel, striking and wounding an endangered Asian elephant with a sharp metal bullhook, he was charged with cruelty to animals. Unfortunately, most big-top bullies are never caught. Circus trainers routinely beat elephants with sharp bullhooks to make them stand on their heads and whip tigers to force them to jump through fiery hoops.Wild babies are stolen from their families to be beaten, starved, and isolated to break their spirits.Tigers and bears are kept in cages so small that they can barely turn around, and elephants are chained, unable to take a full step in any direction.