Capital Mall Bans Animal Exhibits After PETA Appeal

After Learning That Animals in Circuses Are Chained and Beaten, Local Mall Pledges Not to Host Cruel Circus Acts Again

For Immediate Release:
October 20, 2015

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

A box of delicious elephant-shaped vegan chocolates is on its way to Capital Mall as a thank-you from PETA for its recent decision to ban circuses that use animals. The choice was made after the mall—which hosted Carson & Barnes Circus last month—learned from PETA that animals used by circuses are dragged across the country in shackles and forced to perform confusing and uncomfortable tricks for audiences.

“People across the country are turning their backs on circuses that beat elephants, tigers, and other animals into performing,” says counsel to PETA Rachel Mathews. “PETA will continue to help companies everywhere follow in Capital Mall’s compassionate and business-savvy footsteps by banning circuses that use animals.”

In its discussions with Capital Mall, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—noted that Carson & Barnes, like all circuses featuring elephants, uses bullhooks (weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end) to beat elephants and force them to obey out of fear of punishment. Carson & Barnes has been cited for more than 100 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and the USDA filed a formal complaint against it for allowing three elephants to run amok for 45 minutes in St. Charles, Missouri, last year. This year, the circus was cited for denying adequate veterinary care to an elephant and a pygmy hippo who each languished for months before they died.

Capital Mall joins other progressive businesses—including General Growth Properties and Macerich as well as many individual venues across the country—that have enacted bans on animal displays.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.