Mayor and City Council Presented With Long History of Animal Abuse, Public Endangerment, Animal Welfare Act Violations
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Bristol, Conn. -- PETA is urging its Bristol-area members to contact Bristol Mayor Arthur Ward and the members of the City Council and ask them to reject Cole Bros. Circus' plan to perform in the city. PETA has also sent the mayor and council members a letter pointing out that Cole Bros. has a lengthy and well-documented history of animal abuse and public endangerment. In fact, following multiple complaints filed by PETA with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the physical safety and psychological well-being of two particular elephants used by Cole Bros., the circus had to pay a $15,000 penalty recently to the USDA to settle numerous violations of the minimum standards of care required by the federal Animal Welfare Act. As an alternative course of action, PETA is urging the city to allow Cole Bros. to appear only if the circus commits to presenting the animal-free version of its show.
"Animal abuse and public endangerment go hand in hand because beaten elephants can become ticking time bombs," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is urging Bristol officials to reject this attempt by Cole. Bros. to bring a cruel and dangerous show to town."
The USDA charges against Cole Bros.—which include failure to provide adequate veterinary care to elephants and failure to hire personnel capable of caring for them—came after PETA pointed out that two elephants, Tina and Jewel, had been forced to travel, maintain grueling schedules, and perform uncomfortable tricks while critically emaciated. In addition to the USDA's recent enforcement action, the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted Cole Bros. for violating the federal Endangered Species Act by illegally transferring Tina and Jewel to an unlicensed exhibitor. In February 2011, Cole Bros. entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to four years' probation and a $150,000 fine.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.