Ararat Shrine Circus’s Ties to Elephant Abuser Bring PETA Plea—‘Go Animal-Free!’

For Immediate Release:
November 7, 2024

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Ahead of the upcoming Ararat Shrine Circus in Independence, PETA today fired off a letter to Ararat Shrine Potentate Mark Koontz calling on him to drop animal acts from the performance, pointing out that performing animals live under constant threat of punishment and are caged or chained almost constantly behind the scenes, deprived any semblance of a real life. Video footage shows the head trainer for Carson & Barnes Circus—which frequently provides elephant acts for the Ararat Shrine Circus, despite having been cited for more than 100 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—instructing trainers to sink sharp, steel-tipped bullhooks into elephants’ flesh and twist them until the animals scream.

If the Ararat Shrine Circus fails to end the animal acts before opening day on November 21, PETA supporters will converge on the event to warn compassionate people away.

“The Ararat Shrine Circus forces abused animals to perform stupid tricks while being menaced with whips and bullhooks, in direct conflict with Shriner claims of being dedicated to compassion and service,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on the Ararat Shrine Circus to get out of the dark ages and join the many other circuses, including Ringling Bros., that have dropped animal acts in favor of willing human performers.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Koontz follows.

November 7, 2024

Mark Koontz

Potentate

Ararat Shrine

Dear Mr. Koontz:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with an urgent request to leave animals out of the upcoming Ararat Shrine Circus shows, in which the abuse of elderly elephants is set to take center stage. The Ararat Shrine must recognize that times have changed and finally choose to end this shameful chapter of its history by hosting only animal-free fundraisers now and in the future.

Although Shriners claim to be dedicated to compassion and service, animals forced to perform in circuses like yours live under the constant threat of being hit with sharp steel-tipped bullhooks, whips, and other weapons to force them to perform demeaning tricks. Video footage shows the head trainer for Carson & Barnes Circus—which provides the cruel elephant acts for the Ararat Shrine Circus, despite having been cited for more than 100 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—instructing trainers to sink bullhooks into elephants’ flesh and twist them until the animals scream. One of those elephants, Becky, has been forced to perform at your circus in recent years.

It’s no surprise that after decades of violent training sessions, intense confinement, and routine chaining, an elephant named Viola—who has also been forced to perform in your circus—recently escaped from another show and ran panicked through the streets in Butte, Montana. This was at least her third attempt to escape from her abusers, adding to a long list of dangerous incidents involving captive elephants—including ones resulting in injuries to children at other Shrine circuses.

Circuses should be a place of joy and wonder, not a venue for exploitation and danger. Animal-free circuses dazzle audiences with impressive daredevil stunts, breathtaking aerialist acts, and hilarious comedy sketches that bring children happiness—all without abusing anyone. It’s high time that Ararat Shrine moved into the modern era and left animals out of its circuses.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

Executive Vice President