PETA Statement About New York City’s Ban on Wild-Animal Circuses

For Immediate Release:
June 21, 2017

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

The following statement is from PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews regarding today’s vote in New York City to ban the use of wild animals in circuses through a bill sponsored by council members Rosie Méndez—who first introduced a version of this bill 11 years ago—and Corey Johnson:

Wild animals have been suffering in New York City circuses since 1794, when monkeys were forced to perform at Ricketts Circus on Broadway. Council members Rosie Méndez and Corey Johnson have made history—and made New York a much more civilized city.

For decades, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—has led protests calling on New Yorkers to stay away from UniverSoul Circus, the now-defunct Ringling Bros. circus, and other traveling shows that use and abuse elephants, tigers, and other wild animals. PETA gave Council Member Johnson the information needed to pulverize circus-industry representatives at last year’s hearing on this bill.

More information about circuses that use animals is available here.