| Body |
Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development
Room 195, State House
Boston, MA 02133
Committee Telephone: (617) 722-2015
Senators:
Senator Brian A. Joyce - Chair
(Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth)
E-mail: Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1643
Senator James E. Timilty - Vice-Chair
(Bristol and Norfolk)
E-mail: James.Timilty@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1222
Senator Michael W. Morrissey
(Norfolk and Plymouth)
E-mail: Michael.W.Morrissey@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1494
Senator Pamela P. Resor
(Middlesex and Worcester)
E-mail: Pamela.Resor@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1120
Senator Dianne Wilkerson (Second Suffolk)
E-mail: Dianne.Wilkerson@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1673
Senator Richard R. Tisei
(Middlesex and Essex)
E-mail: Richard.Tisei@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 722-1206
Representatives:
Representative Eric Turkington - Chair
(Falmouth)
E-mail: Rep.EricTurkington@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2015
Representative Ellen Story - Vice-Chair
(Amherst)
E-mail: Rep.EllenStory@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2575
Representative David Sullivan (Fall River)
E-mail: Rep.DavidSullivan@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2230
Representative William Pignatelli (Lenox)
E-mail: Rep.SmittyPignatelli@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2582
Representative Brian Wallace (Boston)
E-mail: Rep.BrianWallace@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2013
Representative John D. Keenan (Salem)
E-mail: Rep.JohnDKeenan@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2396
Representative Willie Mae Allen (Boston)
E-mail: Rep.WillieMaeAllen@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2460
Representative Angelo Puppolo (Springfield)
E-mail: Rep.AngeloPuppolo@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2011
Representative Rosemary Sandlin (Agawam)
E-mail: Rep.RosemarySandlin@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2400
Representative Susan W. Gifford (Wareham)
E-mail: Rep.SusanGifford@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2090
Representative Todd M. Smola (Palmer)
E-mail: Rep.ToddSmola@Hou.State.MA.US
Phone: (617) 722-2240
STOP THE MASSACHUSETTS ANTI-CIRCUS BILL!
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® has a long history of entertaining children and families across Massachusetts. That tradition is now being threatened by a proposed law that would stop Ringling Bros.® from coming to your state.
Senate Bill 2002 would prevent Ringling Bros. from continuing to bring our circuses to Massachusetts by preventing the use of elephant guides, the basic and widely accepted tool of sound elephant management. This bill is nothing but an anti-circus bill, and you can help stop it!
Senate Bill 2002 Is Wrong
Massachusetts Senate Bill 2002 does nothing to help animals, but would prevent circuses from coming to the state. Versions of the guide, sometimes called a bull hook or ankus, which the law would ban, have been used by elephant handlers for thousands of years. Similar to many modern tools, its size and function have evolved over time and its use now is to lead and direct animals, much like reins for a horse and a leash for a dog. Elephant handlers in zoos, nature preserves and circuses throughout the world use the guide as an extension of the trainer’s arm along with a voice command. This bill would exempt zoos in your state from using this tool but would prohibit its use by the circus.
The training of elephants is, at its core, no different from the training of other animals and is based on repetition and reward. True animal experts know that a safe and secure environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training any animal. Senate Bill 2002 is only directed at circuses because its supporters want to ban the circus, not protect animals.
The guide is a proven and humane husbandry tool accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates all zoos and circuses, and is approved by the International Elephant Foundation, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Elephant Managers Association.
The care and handling of elephants in circuses is already subject to strict federal, state and local animal welfare and cruelty laws. In fact, the kinds of tool misuse that the bill’s sponsors are concerned about are already against the law. In addition, at Ringling Bros. we have strict policies on the appropriate use of all husbandry tools, including the guide, and do not tolerate misuse of it by our staff. Finally, all circuses and traveling exhibitors that perform in Massachusetts, including Ringling Bros., are inspected by state authorities and receive unannounced inspections by USDA to ensure compliance with the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Who Is Opposed to Senate Bill 2002?
Besides Ringling Bros., this bill is opposed by many elephant experts, responsible animal caregivers and other groups who know that it is unnecessary and would actually make proper elephant management and veterinary care more difficult and dangerous. These include:
Eastern States Exposition ("The Big E")
Elephant Managers Association
International Elephant Foundation
National Animal Interest Alliance
Animal Welfare Council
Outdoor Amusement Business Association
Circus Fans of America
About Ringling Bros.
Ringling Bros. has 54 Asian elephants, the largest herd in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the most successful breeding program in North America. We have celebrated 20 Asian elephant births since 1992 and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation® is recognized as a world-wide leader in the research, reproduction and retirement of the endangered Asian elephant. With 137 years of experience, Ringling Bros. has gained extensive practical and scientific knowledge of elephant behavior and social structure and we regularly work with some of the world's leading experts in elephant care. You can learn more about Ringling Bros. and its magnificent elephants by visiting www.elephantcenter.com. |
Action-Expired