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Although Shriners claim to be dedicated to compassion and service, elephants, tigers, and other animals exploited in Shrine circuses live under the constant threat of being hit with bullhooks—sharp steel-tipped rods that resemble fireplace pokers—whips, and other weapons to force them to perform confusing and painful tricks.
Shrine circuses routinely work with notoriously cruel exhibitors—such as the Carson & Barnes Circus, whose appallingly long history of animal abuse includes more than 100 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—to supply the animals for their acts. Video footage of a veteran trainer even shows him instructing trainers to sink bullhooks into elephants’ flesh and twist them until the animals scream.
Some well-intentioned people may think that attending a Shrine circus benefits children. But ticket sales aren’t charitable donations: The profits are generally used to maintain the club’s premises and fund its activities.
Times have changed. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced its return to the circus ring using only willing human participants. The Western Montana Shrine Circus ended wild-animal acts, Shrine circuses in Canada haven’t used wild animals in years, and the Bahia, Jerusalem, and Melha shrines have discontinued their annual animal circuses.
Please send polite comments to:
John Webb, Potentate
Sharon Shrine
[email protected]
Then, use the form below to urge other shrines to stop using animals in their circuses.