PETA Calls On Oakdale Animal Control Committee to Nix Cruel Circus Fundraiser

Group Points to Carson & Barnes’ Long History of Beating, Neglecting Elephants

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2013

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Oakdale, La. — PETA has fired off a letter urging the Oakdale Animal Control Committee to cancel its plans to raise money for an animal control facility by hosting the notoriously cruel Carson & Barnes Circus. As PETA points out in its letter, Carson & Barnes has a long history of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and one of its trainers, Tim Frisco, has been caught on camera viciously attacking terrified elephants with heavy, metal-tipped bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods. This past summer an eyewitness reported seeing a Carson & Barnes elephant handler beat an elephant with four children on her back until she screamed.

“Inviting Carson & Barnes to perform at an animal-protection fundraiser is like inviting a cigarette company to give the keynote speech at a lung cancer–prevention conference,” says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. “PETA is calling on the Oakdale Animal Control Committee to start its animal-protection efforts off on the right foot and raise money in a way that doesn’t promote the abuse of animals.”

Just last year, Carson & Barnes paid a penalty in a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for 10 violations of the AWA, including for endangering both animals and the public. Carson & Barnes repeatedly failed to maintain control of elephants—one of whom escaped and fell down a steep slope—and to have elephants under the direct control and supervision of knowledgeable and experienced animal handlers. A USDA inspector even saw a Carson & Barnes elephant handler take a phone call while leading an elephant ride—and then leave the elephant completely unattended while one adult and six children sat in the saddle.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.