Circus dismal place for animals
Soon the circus will be in town and with it comes the cruel exploitation of animals for the raw sake of profit.
Animals used in circuses live a dismal life of domination, confinement and violent training. Bears, elephants, horses and the like do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire.
To force them to perform these physically uncomfortable and behaviorally confusing tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, and other painful tools of the trade.
Animals in circuses are hauled around the country in poorly ventilated trailers and boxcars for up to 50 weeks a year in all kinds of extreme weather conditions. Access to the basic necessities of food, water and veterinary care is often inadequate. These unfortunate animals are forced to eat, drink, sleep, defecate and urinate in the same cramped cages.
Current animal welfare laws set only the most minimal standards — such as requiring that animals have enough room to stand up and turn around when confined — but even these basic regulations can be ignored.
Children, who are naturally fond of animals, would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the circus if they knew of the suffering these animals endure for a fleeting moment of so- called amusement.
A growing number of cities are restricting or banning the use of animals in entertainment. More progressive circuses dazzle their audiences solely with skilled human performers.
Circuses that exploit animals have no place in a compassionate society. It’s time for all of us to stop patronizing animal circuses—and to demand that the animal performers be sent to sanctuaries, where they can live out their lives in dignity.
Ryan Baxter,
Goulburn Avenue
Bridge decision ‘disgusting’
I am absolutely appalled and disgusted with city council. On one hand they have a $109-million budget shortfall and want to cut services to the bone on everything from emergency services to public health.
On the other hand, they are still willing to spend $200 thousand on the “design”, and $5 million on building, an unnecessary pedestrian bridge across the Rideau Canal a mere 300 metres from the existing and newly renovated Laurier Avenue bridge.
This is absurd! What a waste of public funds in a time when every cent counts!
I for one am completely opposed to any tax increases as long as pedestrian bridges take priority over housing, health and emergency services. Cut the fat . . . not the bone!