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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