My Testimony to Massachusetts Senate in support of Senate Bill 1870- An Act Related to the Treatment of Elephants
November 12th, 2009
November 8, 2009
To Members of the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development:
I am a veterinarian, and I currently practice in New York and New Jersey. My purpose today is to offer testimony to support the passage of Senate Bill 1870- An Act Related to the Treatment of Elephants/ Commonwealth of Mass.
For the past two years, I have been actively involved with the New York League of Humane Voters, the Humane Society of the United States and other animal welfare groups to educate the public about circus animal abuse. One of the main tools used on elephants for physical punishment and to intentionally inflict fear and injury is the “bullhook”.
I have actively lobbied for the passage of Intro 389, a bill introduced by Council Member Rosie Mendez in NYC, which would ban wild/exotic animal performances in NYC, with particular regard to elephants.
On November 5th, 2009, I met with Speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn regarding obtaining a hearing for Intro 389. Council Member Mendez was present, along with RaeLeann Smith, Circus and Government Affairs Specialist, and Captive Animal Rescue and Enforcement Agent from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Patrick Kwan, NYS Director of the Humane Society of the United States, and John Phillips, Executive Director of the New York League of Humane Voters. Speaker Quinn watched the entire undercover video of Ringling Bros handlers beating and abusing the elephants before their performances at Madison Square Garden in NYC last summer. She listened intently to the evidence that was presented, which will hopefully lead to a hearing and a vote on this bill.
Abuse of elephants in circuses is as old as the circus itself, but it should no longer be an accepted practice. These majestic animals are deprived of almost all natural behaviors in the captivity of circuses. Many of them are captured in the wild, and traumatized during transport to their new destinations. They are beaten until they perform acts that are not only unnatural, but dangerous for the animals and the trainers. When they are not performing, they spend most of their time chained and/or travelling in boxcars or trailers.
The elephants that are born in captivity are taken from their mothers at very young ages, often with the knowledge of USDA inspectors, and trained for the circus. Although this is a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act, inspectors frequently look the other way. The USDA violations for neglect, mistreatment, and abuse against circus owners, trainers, and handlers could fill volumes.
Most children do not want to hurt animals, or see them suffer. If children knew the suffering and cruelty that occurs under the Big Top, I would surmise that most of those children would choose not go to an animal circus. There are several lawsuits currently pending against Ringling and other circuses for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which I am sure you will hear about in other testimony.
I ask you today to take a first step towards more humane entertainment for the people of your state. I think this bill merits immediate passage. I personally do not think it goes far enough, but this bill would at the very least, eliminate the use of a brutal instrument that more often than not is used as a weapon to punish, and to inflict fear, pain and suffering.
Sincerely,
John G. Hynes, D.V.M., P.C.
Member, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association
USDA accredited in NY and NJ
Enc. Copy of Intro 389 (NYC)