Animal Act to Draw Protests at Tower Theatre

Local PETA Supporters Decry Cruelty of Caging, Transporting, and Displaying Wild Animals

For Immediate Release:
October 19, 2018

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

What:    Despite a 500 signature–strong petition calling for the cancelation of Peter Gros’ traveling animal act, the Tower Theatre in Bend still plans to host him on Monday—so a group of local PETA supporters will descend on the theater to urge audiences to stay away.

When:    Monday, October 22, 6 p.m.

Where:    Tower Theatre, 835 N.W. Wall St. (near N.W. Franklin Avenue), Bend

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—notes that animals used in traveling displays are handled excessively, confined to tiny crates, hauled from venue to venue, and displayed in front of loud, rowdy crowds. Many animals used in the entertainment industry show signs of psychological distress, including obsessive pacing, swaying, and self-mutilation.

“In this day and age, there’s no excuse for dragging wild animals from town to town and denying them everything that’s natural and important to them,” says PETA Deputy Director Rachel Mathews. “PETA is asking everyone to stay away from this show and is urging the Tower Theatre to commit to hosting only human performers in the future.”

Before becoming a traveling animal exhibitor, Gros was the vice president of Marine World in California, where chimpanzees were forced to ride on a llama, wear costumes, and “smile”—a grimace exhibited by this species as a sign of fear. Several chimpanzees discarded by Marine World are now cared for by Chimps Inc., a sanctuary in Bend.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.