Animal Allies opposes animal abuse at Universoul Circus
Animal Allies of Western New York completed its picket today of Universoul Circus, which ran from July 7th to the 10th. Animal Allies was there to address concerns of animal rights organizations of abuse by Universoul's handlers towards animals.
Recently in 2010, Boston's Northeastern University canceled Universoul Circus' performance after reviewing a formal letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to the U.S. Department of Agriculture which states which criticized the circus for providing inadequate veterinary care, ill-maintained transport vehicles, and inadequate medical record. Before that, Universoul Circus has been cited numerous times according to the animal rights organization and public authorities for mistreatment of animals. Nevertheless, it is not Universoul itself but, due to a lack of licensing to keep animals, the circuses who they acquire the animals from are legally liable for the treatment of the animals.
According to Universoul Circus in a statement in a report to WIVB Buffalo , "In over 17 years and more than 8,000 performances, none of our animal vendors have ever been cited for animal abuse while performing at the UniverSoul Circus. We work closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that our commitment to a high standard of animal care is upheld". Although, according to organizer Morgan Dunbar, "the animals are beaten with bullhooks and electronic prods before the performance". Recent videos have surfaced which speak to the realities of the confinement and treatment of Universoul's animals. There were three videos taken by animal rights activists of the group,Animal Allies of Western New York which detail a Tiger with his paw stuck in a cage; however, there is a more overtly abusive one acquired by PETA that shows Carson and Bailey contractors urging a handler to "make em' scream" when training elephants.
However, for many people in the Black community the "hip hop under the big top" is a cultural staple. It is apart of our childhood, likewise, for many who see middle-class white people protesting at an completely black owned and operated circus it alludes to images of whites running undesirables out of their neighborhoods or boycotting black businesses. In talking to a passerby who couldn't afford tickets to the circus this year, she said "I'm not trying to play the race card or anything but, there are all these white people in front of a black circus...we didn't see them when Barnum and Bailey was here".
The point of the passerby was echoed by many who stopped and talked to the protesters there. I was embedded with Animal Allies today, and overall the response was mixed however, the activists themselves acknowledged the racial tension from rallying outside of the circus: "I'm not a bigot...it's about the animals, I tell them to go educate themselves on this". The activists completely denied or denounced any racial motivation in this protest, and they cited their recent campaigns concerning the Williamsville Cemetary and their other actions against vivisection and another circus in Williamsville that they've undertaken in the last nine months since their founding.
Later in the day, Animal Allies activists surveyed the area and witnessed "a handler beating a tiger with a bare broomstick six times" according to one of their activists (an image of the tiger cages is shown above).
Animal Allies of WNY organizer Morgan Dunbar stated that, "we like Universoul, if they weren't doing what they're doing to the animals we'd be in there too". When activists called the SPCA they didn't receive immediate satisfaction, out of calling the SPCA three times they were told that they would come immediately and there were only two drivers in Erie County who were on call.
For more information on Animal Allies please go to www.animalallieswny.org and on Universoul's allegations of malpractice please go to PETA's fact sheet here.