Sharon Teen Wins peta2 Award for Raising Funds to Fight Cruel Circuses

Sacred Heart Catholic High School Student Uses Sweet 16 Party to Take On Animal Abuse

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Sharon, Ontario — When Sacred Heart Catholic High School student Veronica DeMedeiros decided to have a sweet 16 party, she wanted it to count for something. So Veronica—who went vegetarian after learning about the suffering of animals raised and killed for food—used the occasion to collect money for PETA’s anti-circus campaign, totaling $800, and handed out bunches of stickers and leaflets about circuses and other animal rights issues.

For her outstanding effort to help PETA take on cruel circuses and other animal abusers, she has received a Star Street Teamer Award from peta2, PETA’s youth division.

“Animals used in circuses are forced to perform through physical abuse and fear,” says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. “As Veronica can tell you, kids love animals, so the last place that parents and grandparents should take them is the circus.”

Circuses confine elephants, big cats, bears, and primates to filthy boxcars or trucks and drag them around the country in all weather extremes. PETA has obtained compelling photos taken inside Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ training center, exposing how baby elephants are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods to force them to learn to perform tricks out of the fear of punishment.

Veronica will receive a framed certificate and be added to peta2.com’s “Everyday Heroes” section.

The peta2 Street Team is a group of youth activists dedicated to helping animals through in-person events, online campaigns, and social media.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.