When planning your vacation, don’t patronize any place using animals. Most zoos and aquariums don’t have the funds to provide normal social groupings, adequate exercise or stimulation for their animals (the big cats and elephants travel long distances daily in the wild).
Marine mammals communicate by sound waves traveling long distances; these bounce off the walls of the small enclosures they are forced to live in, causing frustration. The stress of captivity causes significantly shortened lifespans. Many zoos, even in New England, dispose of surplus animals to “canned hunts” where, for an exorbitant price, they are shot in small fenced-in areas, “guaranteed kills.”
In bull fights, the bull rarely wins and is killed because he is disabled before the event. Vaseline is rubbed in his eyes and nose, picadors sever muscle tendons with their sharp swords. In rodeos, animals buck because of tight cinch straps that pinch sensitive genital areas, calves get injured, slammed to the ground during roping contests. Veterinary care is rarely provided for hurt animals as they are only going to be slaughtered for meat.
Behind the scenes, circus animals are trained by beatings and electric shock. Ever notice the bullhooks and whips used during performances? Circus animals are forced to travel all year in unheated, uncooled boxcars, elephants chained by all four legs for long periods.
Entertainment using animals may be fun for the human spectators, but it is sheer misery and torture for the animals forced into captivity.
Barbara Bonsignore
Concord