Sounding Off
Maureen Shrubsole
I would like to commend the Huntington Beach City Council for having
the foresight to consider banning circuses. There is absolutely no reason
for animals to be exploited in this cruel way. The tricks that they are
made to perform are not natural behaviors and are beaten into the animals
by using “terror tactics,” whips, tight collars, bull hooks and other
abusive tools. There is plenty of documented evidence available to
substantiate these claims.
Tigers do not jump through hoops of fire without being cruelly forced;
big cats are naturally terrified of fire. Elephants sometimes rampage go
berserk and people have been killed.
Circuses without animals are the only good circuses; we do not learn
anything by subjecting animals to perform degrading acts for some
people’s amusement.
In the last few years people have been made aware how animals suffer
in circuses, there is no excuse for not knowing. Many cities are in the
process of banning or have already banned circuses. There are many
enlightened compassionate people in Huntington Beach and a sympathetic
city council so hopefully circuses will be banned in Huntington Beach.
Many enlightened countries -- Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark
and India -- have banned circuses using animals. May we learn by their
good example.
* MAUREEN SHRUBSOLE is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute to
Sounding Off fax us at (714) 965-7174 or e-mail us ato7
hbindy@latimes.com.
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