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Please Consider Skipping the Circus this September
Many residents of Deerfield, Darien, Glendale Heights and Berwyn would like our communities to take a stand against the inhumane treatment of wild animals by choosing to skip the Kelly Miller Circus when they bring their elephants (and other animals) to our towns. The Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) oppose the use of wild animals in circuses and other traveling acts.
Why Shouldn't I Attend the Kelly Miller Circus ?
1. The Animals Experience an Inhumane Existence Day after Day...
Wild animals used in circuses and other traveling acts are routinely subjected to months on the road confined in small, barren trailers. With few exceptions, they are provided with limited and inconsistent veterinary care. While traveling, these animals are performing, giving rides, living in small trailers amid their own waste, or in temporary electric wire pens (from which they are strong enough to escape). Much of the time they are chained on their front and back opposing legs, with no chance to move freely, let alone express their full range of natural behaviors. Their care is often entrusted to seasonal or temporary circus employees who have little or no education in caring for these animals. This season, the Kelly Miller elephants will travel to over 200 towns in only 8 months.
  
2. The Animals Endure Cruel Training Methods.
Despite claims to the contrary, trainers often use excessive and abusive training methods including using sharp, heavy poles (called bull hooks) to train the elephants. Circuses claim these hooks are necessary to establish and maintain the control necessary to make animals perform tricks. In fact, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has said that if the Connecticut State Legislature passes a bill that outlaws bull hooks, they will not travel to towns enforcing the law. Though positive reinforcement may also be a part of a trainer's repertoire, it's not enough to guarantee control of a four-ton elephant in the ring.
At the show, trainers may or may not hit the elephants while on public display. However, the elephants know what can happen to them if they don’t perform.
Libby, one of the Kelly Miller elephants, was found to have a puncture wound clear through to the back of her ear at the end of the 2005 season. Kelly Miller Circus was cited by the USDA for inadequate veterinary care because the wound was several days old, oozing and had not been seen by a veterinarian - which is a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Kelly Miller Circus said they had no citations in 2005...see for yourself.
Additionally, Kelly Miller Circus told Foundation representatives that they get their elephants from The Endangered Ark. Imagine how disturbed we were to learn that Tim Frisco, an elephant handler who has been cited by the USDA for using “physical abuse to work with and train the animals" is employed by The Endangered Ark and has the Kelly Miller elephants under his care during their off season. This is the same man you can see video footage of below, telling other elephant trainers to, “Sink that hook into ‘em..“ and ”I’m not going to do this in front of a thousand people” and “…can’t do it on the road.”
This footage resulted in Carson Barnes (the circus he worked for at the time) paying a fine to the USDA for "using physical abuse to work with and train the animals." Click here to see the USDA violation.
Warning: Offensive language and disturbing images!
3. Wild animal circuses pose a public safety risk .
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums states in their standards for elephant care, that … "In the interest of public safety, AZA strongly discourages the practice of walking elephants in public areas during public hours", and "it strongly encourages AZA members to discontinue public elephant rides." If the Association of Zoos and Aquariums feels that it's unsafe to handle elephants in this way, why would we trust the Kelly Miller circus?
Lisa Landress, Senior Elephant Keeper at the San Diego Zoo for 11 years, warns parents to keep their children away from elephants. As she puts it, “They can move so quickly, and these types of things [mishaps and attacks] can happen in two seconds. That’s what the public doesn’t understand…and what they need to get.” Click here for a detailed list of recent incidents related to elephants and public safety.
Aside from the physical threat of the elephants, there is a disease risk, as well. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, "Tuberculosis is common in elephants in zoos, circuses, and wildlife parks within the United States. This infection represents a serious risk to elephant handlers; exhibit visitors, and other animals."
Click here to read more about elephants and TB.
Another possible safety concern...
In Deerfield, The Kelly Miller Circus animals and employees will be spending the night in the Brickyards Park after the circus. Last summer an employee of the Kelly Miller Circus was arrested for raping a 14 year old girl who was attending the circus. According to Livingston County, NY Sheriff’s Department, the circus worker plead guilty to the rape charge and went to jail.
Youth coaches (parents) are required to have a background checks in order to coach their own kids. Other towns (such as Cedarburg, WI and Savannah, IL) require background checks for any transient entertainment employees who come to their town.
Are we confident that Kelly Miller has sufficiently screened their employees?
UPDATE: In Deerfield, after these concerns were raised by residents, the Village amended Kelly Miller's circus permit to include a background check on all employees who would be spending the night. After learning this, the Kelly Miller Circus informed the village that they would pack up after the last show and move on.
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