Click here to promote your organization or buy advertising space
CAMPAIGNS - ANIMALS IN ENTERTAINMENT
Sample Letter to a Public Official
(Courtesy of Troy Seidle)
Cut'n'Paste from below, or click here to download the original MS Word file (64k).
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S LETTERHEAD]
[date]
[name & title of public official]
[address of public official]
Dear [title & name of public official]:
Re: Support for Prohibiting Performing Animal Acts
I am writing on behalf of [your group’s name], a local animal protection organization, to encourage your support for a by-law to prohibit performing animal acts in [name of city].
As you may be aware, the lives of animals in circuses and travelling shows differ drastically from those of their counterparts in the wild. The physical and practical constraints of the travelling circus environment result in animals being either chained or confined to transport cages at virtually all times when not performing. They have no alternative but to defecate, urinate, eat, drink, and sleep all in the same tiny area. Stereotypic behaviours such as swaying back and forth, head-bobbing, pacing, and bar-biting are common in circus animals, and are indicative of frustration and psychological distress.
In light of the foregoing, it’s little wonder that during public performances, spectators have been injured or even killed by animals rampaging or attempting to escape. In fact, since 1990, at least 47 people have been killed and more than 100 seriously injured by captive elephants. Similarly, attacks by captive felines have resulted in at least 23 deaths and more than 70 injuries. I have enclosed summaries of recent Canadian animal incidents for your information.
I am also enclosing, for your review and consideration, is a video entitled Plight of Performing Animals, produced by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. This video includes interviews with animal behaviourists, veterinarians, and former animal trainers, who provide expert testimony with respect to the treatment and use of animals in circuses. I trust that you will agree, after seeing the conditions under which animals are forced to live in circuses, that these events are no longer an acceptable form of entertainment. Indeed, a growing number of human-only circuses are now able to provide quality family entertainment without compromising the well-being of animals or the safety of the public.
For the sake of animal welfare and the safety of the residents in our community, I urge you to lend your support to a proposal to ban performing animal acts in [name of city].
I appreciate your consideration of this matter and look forward to receiving your response.
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
~ [your title] ~
Encls.
|
