by Betsy Seeton

This is the best news I've heard in a long time and Chippy and Jasper are elated! The UK is banning animals in circuses. The change comes after undercover video reveals horrendous abuse of a circus elephant. This type of undercover filming is being voted on in the United States and may soon become a felony! It's outrageous to take away this tool as a way to bring needed change. Read more on that issue here and read about the UK's compassionate, intelligent, progressive changes below. 

Under existing laws in the UK, travelling circuses only have to comply with relatively simple guidelines under the Animal Welfare Act which governs how domestic pets must be treated. They are specifically excluded from tougher cruelty and welfare laws for zoos. But all that is about to change. Source: http://www.express.co.uk

Last week, this  undercover footage seen on YouTube (below) of the brutal treatment of Anne, a 59-year old Asian elephant owned by a UK traveling circus - Bobby Roberts Circus - inflicted by Anne's trainer, caused a huge public outcry all across the UK. The end result of this horrendous abuse has motivated Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, to take action in favor of the animals being exploited and abused. She has determined that forcing elephants, tigers, lions, & camels to perform tricks for paying customers is wrong and intends to ban the practice throughout Britain. She also stated that the conditions in which they travel thousands of miles each year is detrimental to their health.

Anne has been relocated to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire where she will be protected from such cruelty the rest of her life.

I hope Anne's abuser is charged and sees jail time for his abuse. I also hope the United States will soon follow in the compassionate, evolved footsteps of the UK and ban animals from all circuses and performances. (I couldn't finish watching the video .... )

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