People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 2 million members and supporters. PETA recently obtained an expert inspection report regarding elephants travelling with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Ringling). According to this report, at least three elephants suffer from numerous maladies, including foot problems and dehydration, which can be fatal to elephants. We have attached an excerpt from the report for your review. We urge you to consider the important information contained in this letter so that you may take the appropriate investigative action as Ringling is scheduled to perform in Miami in the near future.

The standard of care Ringling provides to its elephants is in clear violation of Florida statute and the Animal Welfare Act. See Florida Statute: Title XLVI. Crimes. Chapter 828. Animals: Cruelty; Sales; Animal Enterprise Protection. To begin with, the three elephants of concern undergo inhumane training, travel, and performance conditions that are punishable under Florida statute (Fla. Stat.). Fla. Stat. § 828.12 describes the types of cruelty to animals that are punishable by law. Because Ringling regularly beats the elephants with bull hooks, denies the elephants water on long trips, and denies the elephants veterinary care and treatment for their severe injuries, Ringling may be found guilty, under § 828.12(1), of "unnecessarily tormenting, depriving of necessary sustenance, and mutilating" these elephants. Under § 828.12(2), Ringling may be found guilty of "excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering" upon the elephants. Under these sections, Ringling may be guilty of anything from a misdemeanor to a felony in the third degree, and/or a fine of $5,000 to $10,000.

If the handlers are found guilty of "knowing and intentional torture," under § 828.12(3), Ringling will be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.

The travelling conditions also violate Fla. Stat. § 828.13(2)(a), which regulates the confinement of animals. The elephants are confined in trailers with little or no wholesome water, which causes them to be very dehydrated and worsens their already ailing conditions. The confines also violate (2)(b), which regulates the requisite space in any confinement, because they deprive the elephants of wholesome exercise; in fact, the space is so small that the elephants cannot emerge from the trailer without scraping their backs against the ceiling. Each of these violations result in a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in § 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine. If further investigation reveals that the elephants are deprived of necessary water for longer than 28 hours

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