Politics & Government

PETA Urges Palos Hills to Pull the Plug on the Circus

The animal welfare organization is requesting Palos Hills drop sponsorship of the upcoming Carson and Barnes Circus following numerous reports of elephant beatings.

PETA is urging the City of Palos Hills to drop their sponsorship of the upcoming Carson and Barnes sexual assault awareness circus.

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett and the City Council received letters from PETA asking, at the very least, that this be the last year Carson and Barnes Circus is invited to town because of reports of animal welfare violations. According to PETA, a recent eyewitness sworn affidavit claims an elephant was repeatedly struck in the armpit with a bullhook—causing her to scream.

It's not the first time this has happened, says PETA. Video evidence of a Carson and Barnes handler mistreating elephants can be viewed on the PETA website.

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"Time and time again, Carson & Barnes Circus has been caught beating elephants until they scream," PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders said. "If Palos Hills hosts this cruel outfit, it will virtually be underwriting animal abuse,"

The letter sent to Palos city officials requests a response by noon on Thursday. Mayor Bennett did not immediately respond to calls and emails from Patch for comment.

Find out what's happening in Paloswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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