Stop Circus Suffering

The circus big top hides a horrible secret. Wild animals in traveling circuses endure confinement, long, arduous journeys, brutal control methods and physical violence. The training tools of the circus trade are weapons—bullhooks, (a heavy bar with a sharpened point and hook) stun guns and other electric prods, metal bars, whips, deprivation of food and water and intimidation—used to coerce wild animals to perform unnatural tricks for the sole purpose of human amusement.

In the United States today, this horrific animal cruelty is happening to wild animals in traveling circuses.

This short video will give you a glimpse of the misery that makes up the life of a circus animal.

Click here to send an email to your Representative in Congress.

Make a donation to help support this campaign and fund our ongoing undercover investigations.

No amount of expensive regulation will protect a wild animal in a traveling circus from a life of ongoing physical and social deprivation, such as an elephant chained by the leg for hours on end or a tiger confined for months to a tiny cage.

What you can do:

You can help end this abuse! Ask your Representative in Congress to support and co-sponsor the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359), a landmark federal bill that aims to protect elephants, tigers, bears and other wild animals from being forced to perform in traveling circuses.

Emails and calls to Congress needed today!

It is easy to send an email and make a quick call to your member of congress today! Join a massive grassroots push with dozens of Stop Circus Suffering campaign partner organizations working with Animal Defenders International to flood Congress with calls and emails. Even if you have already sent a message, please call today!

• Please click here to send a message to your Representative in Congress. This page will help you find your Representative and provide you with sample letters to assist you in sending the appropriate message. Feel free to personalize your message, if you wish.
• Then, please follow up with a quick call to Congress. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your Representative’s office.  (Please do not call your Senator at this time as a companion bill in the Senate has not yet been introduced.)
• We want to hear from you! Please contact Animal Defenders International at usa@ad-international.org and let us know the response you get from your Representative so that we can effectively advance this important legislation.

Tips for calling your Representative:

• Identify yourself and ask to speak with the staff/aide assigned to issues regarding wildlife and the humane care of animals.
• Take note of their name and ask the aide to please pass along a message to your Representative that you are encouraging them to support and co-sponsor the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (H.R. 3359).
• You may want to share some examples of why this bill is needed:
  • H.R. 3359 is necessary because no amount of expensive regulation will eliminate the serious threat circuses pose to public safety. Diseases including tuberculosis can be transmitted from animals to humans and animals such as lions, tigers and elephants have all been known to escape and have killed, maimed or injured circus workers, members of the public and children.
  • Regulation will not protect wild animals from a life of ongoing physical and social deprivation. Wild animals in traveling circuses endure confinement, long, arduous journeys, brutal control methods and physical violence.
  • Investigations have revealed circus animals are trained through domination using weapons including bullhooks, whips and electric shocking devices.
  • H.R. 3359 is an important animal protection measure that will relieve an enormous amount of suffering, will save resources and protect people.

Background about H.R. 3359

• The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, H.R. 3359, will restrict the use of exotic and non-domesticated animals from traveling circuses in the United States.
• The bill was introduced Nov. 2^nd, 2011 by Congressmen Jim Moran (D-VA) and Bill Young (R-FL) and is gaining momentum with 19 co-sponsors and is currently awaiting a hearing in the House Ag Subcommittee of Livestock, Dairy and Poultry.
• Celebrity protectionists Bob Barker and Jorja Fox were also present for the historic launch of this landmark bill for animal protection in the United States.
• For the language of the bill, evidence supporting the need and other news and information, please visit: www.federalcircusbill.org

Join the Campaign!

• To join the Stop Circus Suffering Mobile Action Team and receive text alerts about breaking news and action you can take to protect circus animals, text CHAIN to 55678.*Standard msg & data rates apply. Max 3msg/wk. Text HELP for help. STOP to end.
• For questions or to find out how you can help us Break the Chain of circus abuse, email usa@ad-international.org
• Make a donation to help support this campaign and fund our ongoing undercover investigations.