Animal-Rights Activists Trying to Ban Circus in Margate for Messin' With Elephants

• you show that Americans love animals and are joining the rest of the world in the year 2011 to say no to Animals in treaveling shows! 

• Break the Chain - Join Here: http://breakthechainus.com/ Support and Read about the Bill here: Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA) http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/02/politics/barker-circus-animals-bill/index.html

• So am I and I haven't been banned! (Yet)  :)

• Write your congress representative in support of "The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act" (TEAPA) is a historic first for the U.S., and this Bill, which has attracted bipartisan support and been sponsored by Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va), aims to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses, effectively bringing to an end the random cruelty and neglect associated with circuses of this nature. It is the first bill to comprehensively tackle the use of all wild animals in U.S. circuses ever to be launched in the United States. Kenneth Feld/Ringling Bros Circus is livid, he is a resident in Congressman Jim Moran district. All Florida residents should stand up against Ringling Bros Circus as they house their abused elephants in our state too.

• Right on!

• The other thing to be concerned about is tuberculosis transmission from elephants. No kidding. http://circustb.webs.com/

• CARJB You assume I relied on this video for my decision, anyone that knows me knows that is an unwise assumption. I spend a lot of time researching on my own. As for banning other animals that are beaten, where does it say elephants are banned? I attended the circus last year and no one offered me the opportunity to spend time with the animals otherwise I would have asked what drugs the big cats were on cuz from what I could see from the stands they were totally out of it. I did enjoy the non animal acts more than anything. An animal being abused in the city is protected by the law, the abuser is made accountable. Whether the use of a bullhook is abuse to you is your own decision. My decision is bullhooks have no use in Margate. Le

• Circus animals won tonight and it was SHOCKING!! THANK YOU to Mayor of Margate Pam Donovan and the entire Commission for being incredibly gracious, open-minded, listening for hours and treating all of us with kindness and empathy. As a good Mayor and Commission should. They unanimously voted to tell the Chamber of Commerce never to bring a circus with animals back to Margate. At the next Commission meeting, they will vote to ban the bull hook and electric probe and/or the circus in general. Thank you to the speakers, the 60 people who showed up and the 100 who called and emailed! Your voices matter! This is proof. I encourage everyone to go to City Hall Commission Meetings, across Florida and the nation to ask they ban the bullhook.

• CARJB wants more videos so CARJB can say "The elephant likes the bullhook".

• In our city? You just proved my point you work for the circus. Zero accountability huh? Pedophiles and Animal Abusers usually stick together. Now I see why. 

• FQS900 my comment to your alter username CARJB (the one that liked this post) applies to you as well. You are your circus cronies sat in the corner as the community came together last night and the City of Margate heard the message loud and clear.. Was that you in the video? Seems like an awfully personal response to a ban of a bullhook.

• Dear CARJB, Clearly you are the Cole Brothers Spokesperson who sat silently in the corner last night as the truth of your nefarious, animal and employee abusing, operation was clearly on display. I showed that video last night. Did you not like it? Could you not get a glimpse from the corner of the room you were huddled in? This video shows Tim Frisco, a horrific masochistic sociopath that likes to physically abuse animals by electrocuting them and 'hooking' them till they scream. Tim Frisco was recently employed by Cole Brothers. Your taste in trainers speaks volumes as to your ethical and moral compass.Why is it you pay your employees less than federal minimum wage? Do you think that's fair too? We APPLAUD the City of Margate, the Mayor and each Commissioner for standing up against circus bullies as yourself and speaking out for the animals you abuse. We will take this to more cities in Florida until we put you out of business. By the way I look forward to helping this bill get passed. Your days are numbered. Come out of the tent, put down your bullhook and say HI to us next week. We'll be outside with signs that "GOODBYE COLE BROTHER" :) p.s. "The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act is the first bill to comprehensively tackle the use of all wild animals in US circuses ever to be launched in the U.S. It is a chance to break the chain of circus animal suffering in the U.S. once and for all."  http://breakthechainus.com/2011/11/02/historic-bill-to-end-cruelty-to-wild-animals-in-circuses/

• is there anything you don't hate?

• Yes  the video posted  has everything to do with Cole Bros, the trainer on the tape is notorious Elephant abuser Tim Frisco, he was the head Elephant trainer at Cole Bros last season.  It is a clear demonstration of what goes on behind the scenes at ALL animal circuses.  Trainer/handlers/animals all travel work throughout multiple circuses.   Cole Bros current trainer John Walker aka John Caudill was caught on tape in MA over the summer viciously beating a docile elephant with a bullhook across the face baseball bat swing style.  John Walker used to run Walker Bros circus with his scumbag  circus family until their license was revoked by the USDA for severe animal abuse.  The AWA has a HUGE loophole, because nothing prevents scumbag animal abusers like John Walker from handling exotic regulated wild animals as long as someone else is holding the USDA license.

• Will that include a tour behind the scenes? Why don't you allow activists to video tape what goes on backstage in your circus? Show everyone where the elephants eat, sleep and travel. I dare you to allow open access to any one of our activists.

• There are at least two videos on YouTube taped in May and June of 2011 showing Cole Bros. elephant handler, using his bullhook like a baseball bat hitting these elephants across the face and legs.  Another video shows Cole's head elephant handler hooking Viola in the ear canal with a sharp bullhook and pulling hard on it, you can hear her trumpet in pain. This same Elephant Handler has a history of abusing circus animals, the USDA has fined him and father $25,000 back in 2004 for abusing elephants.

• In 2008 the USDA terminated Cole Bros animal license. So Cole Bros has to lease their elephant and tiger acts. They lease Viola, Nina and Kelly from Carson & Barnes Circus. You can watch a video on YouTube showing how Carson & Barnes beats these elephants to train them to perform circus tricks.  Cole's tigers are leased from the Hawthorn Corporation. They have a horrible reputation for abusing their animals too. With the Internet at our fingertips their is no excuse for not educating yourself about the abuse these circus animals suffer in the name of entertainment. 

• No it doesn't.  It is picking on one small group!  Abuse is abuse and there is lots going on in your city that is not band!

• Unfortunately Le Peerman this shows how decisions are made not realizing what is going on.  This video had nothing to do with Cole Bros. Circus.  Will your council not ban dogs, cats, horses, children, etc. who are actually being beaten in your city?  When was the last time an elephant was beaten in your city, someone hurt by an elephant in your city?  More needless government involvement!  I do hope you and the mayor go to the circus, spend time with the animals, and get a little first hand education!  Why would anyone owning an animal valued at more than $100,000 abuse it?

• This video has nothing to do with the Cole Bros. Cirucs.  It is from and Animals Rights organization.  One taking your money and doing nothing for animals!

• Your comment is irrelevent and strays from the matter at hand.

• Thank you So much to the commisioners and Mayor of Margate! you show that Americans love animals and are joining the rest of the world in the year 2011 to say no to Animals in treaveling shows! 

• Let's ban whiners.  If you don't like animals on display, then we should ban pet ownership, as some people don't walk their dogs often enough, feed them a proper nutritious diet, play with them enough, or throw the stick far enough.  While we're at it, ban zoos, dairies, ranches, chicken coops, bait stores, pet stores, horse riding stables and so on.  Just think of all the cute 'lil animals that would no longer be cruelly be forced to serve brutal exploiters.  Of course we would also have to find something to do with all those unproductive critters.  I've got it!!!!  They all should be kept in a beautiful parkland, fed and given veterinary care at the expense of PETA and when PETA's cash runs out, then we turn them into tasty meals for the homeless. These sniveling fools want to stop other people from using their property, but are unwilling to bear the expense of their desires.  As the madam tells the sport when he stops into the fancy house, "a gentleman must pay for his pleasures."  If PETA wants to halt animal exploitation then they should fund it.  PETA needs to give until it hurts if they really care, but they are unwilling to put their money where their mouth is.

• The activist spoke well, presented their case respectfully and the Mayor suggested putting on the agenda to not allow bullhooks or the electric prodding thingey in the city of Margate. The speakers gave us an option, one we could work with. There was not anything we could do about this year but I am pretty sure that a circus with "wild" animals will not be coming to Margate in the future.   Le

• Circuses are a carry over from a very dark age and they scare hell out of kids.

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