Victory! Cities Just Keep Saying ‘No’ to Garden Bros. Circus’ Cruelty

It hasn’t been a great week for Garden Bros. Circus—which makes it a much better week for animals. Garden Bros. was scheduled to perform in Minneapolis on June 3 and 4 and in Little Falls, Minnesota, on June 5. But both cities told the circus that if it wanted to put on a show, it would have to perform without animals in tow.

PETA had contacted Minneapolis Animal Care & Control, the Minneapolis Police Department, and local authorities in Little Falls, advising them of Garden Bros.’ long history of deplorable public endangerment and egregious abuse of animals. In just one of the examples that we noted, a whistleblower reported that Zachary Garden, the circus’s manager, habitually beats animals, withholds food from them, and has refused to provide injured and dying animals with adequate veterinary care.

We also provided authorities with the disturbing video from PETA’s investigation of elephant “training” at Carson & Barnes Circus, which provides Garden Bros.’ elephant act. And we pointed out that allowing the circus to force animals to perform would violate Minneapolis’ Code of Ordinances, and Little Falls’ zoning laws. The authorities agreed. Officials for both cities confirmed that Garden Bros. would have to conduct the shows without using animals.

What You Can Do

You can keep the momentum going. Use PETA’s e-mail form to contact venues that are scheduled to host Garden Bros. and ask them to keep animals out of their shows as well.