Recent images filmed on hidden camera and published in January 2017 by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reveal once again the intrinsic cruelty of circuses for all the animals who are held captive.

^{Source: HSUS}

Tora, a tiger in the spectacle ShowMe Tigers for Carden Circus and Shrine Circuses, was whipped 31 times by her trainer, Ryan Easley. The animal, paralyzed on a stool, showed obvious signs of distress and pain.

^{Source: HSUS}

Jay Pratte, animal behavior specialist, explained to HSUS:

Ryan Easley utilizes archaic training methods which entail fear, force and punishment.

^{Source: HSUS}

He continued:

In my professional opinion, the tigers at ShowMe Tigers are suffering from psychological neglect and trauma on a daily basis.

^{Source: HSUS}

When not performing, the eight tigers are confined in narrow, metal cages. According to the HSUS report:

Except for the few minutes each day when the tigers performed, they were kept exclusively in transport cages where they ate, slept, paced, urinated and defecated in the approximately 13 square feet of floor space afforded to each one. Not once were they provided the chance to exercise outside the transport cages. In fact, the tigers’ exercise cage was never even unloaded from the trailer.

^{Source: HSUS}

In addition to the difficult living conditions, the animals also suffered from diverse problems. Tora had injuries to her face that were left untreated. Sadly, it’s not the first time that she has been subject to health issues. Five years earlier, the USDA cited Easley for not having traeted the open wound on Tora’s ribs.

The HSUS investigator continued:

The tigers cowered, flinched and moaned in distress and flattened their ears back in a fearful response to being whipped and hit with a stick, typical behavior of traumatized and abused tigers.

^{Source: HSUS}

During the 22 days that the investigation lasted, the tigers were not even fed. The HSUS gave their findings to the USDA and hope that measures will be taken to put an end to this inhumane treatment.

You can read more about what it’s like for animals forced to work in entertainment, here.

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The post Images Of This Circus Tiger Receiving 31 Lashes Of A Whip Causes A Scandal appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

On May 14, a trainer at the Fuzhou zoo in China was filmed violently hitting a bear during a show.

The animal, who executed the same tricks he did everyday, had the misfortune of falling over one of the small obstacles he had to climb over. In reaction, the trainer gave him a violent kick between the legs.

 ^{Source: YouTube/Pear Video}

A little later, when the bear was performing another trick with a ring, he received another blow, forcing him to lift his legs.

The incident was filmed by the spectators, and was posted on Youtube shortly after, accompanied by comments from witnesses. One of them, who filmed the scene, explained:

The bear already received several hits before filming. Audiences kept shouting, ‘Don’t kick the bear!’ The tamer ignored us.

^{Source: YouTube/Pear Video}

A zoo representative, also commented on the incident:

He kicked because the bear refused to perform, making him impatient. The trainer has been suspended. We will also gradually change our training ways.

^{Source: YouTube/Pear Video}

These images of mistreatment in Chinese zoos are similar to the situation with Pizza, ‘the saddest bear in the world’ or those of obese Siberian tigers at the Yuqiong Zoo.

The captivity conditions are often mediocre if not deplorable and, even if a number of zoos and parks are working towards improving the way the animals are treated, too few efforts have been made to this point.

Watch the video taken during the show below:

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better living conditions.

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post This Bear Was Violently Kicked By A Trainer After Missing A Trick appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

Another city has taken a huge step towards protecting animals being exploited for entertainment.

^{Source: Inhabitat}

New York City has joined the likes of Los Angeles and Madrid in banning circus acts using wild animals thanks to a 43 to 6 city council vote.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has supported other animal protection movements, including that to ban horse and carriage rides, has stated that he looks forward to signing the bill into law.

^{Source: PETA}

Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, who has been fighting for this for 11 years now, said in a statement:

This legislation will ensure that animals are in their natural state, not confined in small boxcars and/or treated in other inhumane ways. Equally important, human beings will be safe from animals that may act ferociously.

This bill is one of many changes towards cruelty free entertainment. Although Ringling Brothers, one of the largest and most well-known circuses, shut down a few months ago, many smaller circuses are still carrying on.

^{Source: Positivfr}

In addition to just a city ban, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York state, is expected to sign a bill to prohibit the use of elephants statewide.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better living conditions.

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post VICTORY. This Iconic City Just Banned The Use Of Wild Animals In Circuses appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, the oldest circus in the USA definitely closed its final curtain in May 2017 after 146 years of shows.

^{Source: Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey}

For some time now criticism has been growing regarding the use of wild animals in American circuses, leading to the proposal of a law to ban the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses.

Two men from opposing ends of the political spectrum are at the heart of this initiative: Ryan Costello, elected Republican in Pennsylvania, and Raul Grijalva, elected Democrat in Arizona.

^{Source: Stephanie Sinclair}

Their proposed Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act would put an end to the use of these animals for public entertainment, allowing them to return to their natural habitats and not perform unnatural stunts.

^{Source: Emmanuel Dunand}

Ryan Costello explains his motivation for this bill:

I don’t think that those practices have any place in the fabric of our society.

This proposed law would be the first of its kind and an important step for animal rights. Similar bills have been proposed to congress in the past, but have never succeeded.

However, public opinion is on the side of this law as people have become much more willing to publicly criticize the use of wild animals in circuses and this transformation has not gone unnoticed. Notably, an aquarium in Baltimore decided to move its dolphins to a sanctuary, where they can live the rest of their lives in peace.

^{Source: Animal Defenders International}

However, opinions in Washington are conflicting. The Cavalry Group, who opposes all regulation on the use of animals, exotic or otherwise, argues that this law  “would deprive countless Americans [of] the ability to experience endangered animals up close, such as elephants and tigers.”

^{Source: PETA}

34 countries have already banned the use of animals in circuses, following the initial move in Belgium. Some American cities have already made this bold decision, including Los Angeles.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects on animals of being used in circuses which show that these highly intelligent creatures are seriously damaged by lives in captivity. The shows that they are forced to perform in require unnatural behavior and stunts, which cause physical and psychological problems.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

^{H/t: Boston Globe / Cover photo: Valéry Hache – AFP}

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The post The United States Could Very Soon Ban The Use Of Wild Animals In Circuses All Over The Country appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

Jumbo the hippopotamus has spent thirty years kept in captivity in a traveling French circus.

^{Source: One Voice}

He is forced to live out his days in a tiny trailer attached to a lorry, only fifteen meters long and three meters wide, completely inadequate for the an animal of such a large size.

As amphibians, hippopotamuses spend almost the entirety of their lives submerged in bodies of water where they can find food and rest the heavy weight of their bodies. National Geographic estimates that the creatures spend around 16 hours a day in water where they can take refuge from the sun.

Sadly, Jumbo has no access to water and escapes the confines of his cage for only thirty minutes a day when he is showered with a fraction of the water he needs and is watched by visitors.

^{Source: One Voice}

The huge creature is not fed nearly enough for his huge size. Hippopotamuses in the wild will eat a staggering 80 pounds of grass in one day as they cruise along lakes for hours.

An inquiry carried out by the French animal welfare association, One Voice, found that neither the physical nor psychological needs of the animal had been met.

^{Source: One Voice}

They described in a Youtube Video:

 

The life that Jumbo has been living for the last 30 years is not that of a hippopotamus. Isolated in his trailer, he takes 3 steps and drinks some water from a hosepipe to allow visitors to take a photo of him. A tragedy for someone who should be spending his days in a river with the rest of his pack.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red list, hippos are a vulnerable species, and their population is currently decreasing. One Voice has launched a petition to free wild animals, such as Jumbo, from circuses and is trying to take legal action against the circus where the hippo, along with five elephants, are trapped to free them immediately.

If you would like to add your voice to the cause, you can sign the petition by clicking here (in French).

* * *

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The post Hippopotamus Trapped In Circus For Over Thirty Years Only Escapes His Confines For 30 Minutes A Day appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

In China, hundreds of animals are imprisoned in horrendous conditions and forced to perform in travelling shows, circuses and roadside zoos.

An undercover agent from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) infiltrated 10 of these ‘attractions’ and compiled an exposé, detailing the abuse that these animals face.

What they found was profoundly disturbing and recorded to reveal the cruelty of these organisations.

^{Source: Youtube/PETA}

Bears, lions, tigers and monkeys were all routinely threatened with violence, such as being beaten with a metal pole or hit with a whip, in order to make them perform tricks familiar to anyone who has been to a circus with animals; balancing on beams, walking on their hind legs, jumping through hoops and many other unnatural stunts.

If they failed to perform, or made a mistake, they were immediately and brutally hit.

^{Source: PETA}

To train them to stand upright on their hind legs, baby bears are chained to a wall by the neck, as seen in a video accompanying the exposé. If they try to get back on all fours, or become tired after hours in this strained position, they risk choking themselves.

Monkeys too risk strangulation from their so-called handlers, with one, Xiaohau, being dragged around by a rope around her neck when she fearfully tried to escape.

^{Source: PETA}

The living conditions outside of their training times are equally as horrific, being tiny, metal cages or concrete cells, with barely any room to move around in.

The bear cubs were seen crying out and biting at the bars of their cages, desperate to escape. Many of the larger animals were further confined by ropes or chains, which let them only take a few steps in any direction.

^{Source: PETA}

Other animals, such as a dog, llamas and some pigs, were also found in the same terrible living conditions. One dog, Laifu, was considered too old to perform and was essentially neglected, never let out of his tiny cage and ignored for hours on end.

These living areas are both inappropriate and unsanitary, as the animals must eat, sleep, urinate and defecate there.

^{Source: PETA}

The sad truth is that these industries only thrive because of demand from the public; change must come from us. Already this year, many cities such as New York City and Los Angeles have made steps to outlaw this cruel form of ‘entertainment’, but it still lives on throughout the world.

You can make a pledge to not support this horrendous industry by clicking here. You can also make a donation to the Performing Animal Welfare Society, which protects abused and retired performing animals, by clicking here.

Watch PETA’s video below:

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post Circus Animals Routinely Beaten To Force Them To Perform Tricks For Human Amusement appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

In a victory for animals everywhere, the U.S. state of Illinois became the first to officially ban circuses and any other traveling acts that use elephants in their shows.

Governer Bruce Rauner signed the ban on August 11, after it passed in the Illinois Senate 55-0, and it will come into effect next year in January 2018.

^{Source: Inhabitat}

This amazing news follows earlier bans that have been enacted by cities such as New York City and Los Angeles, that banned traveling circuses with animal performers from coming to them.

Animal rights groups and activists from all corners of the globe have welcomed the bill, hoping that other states and countries will soon follow suit. State director of Illinois for The Humane Society, Mark Ayers, said:

For too long, elephants used in circuses have endured cruel training, constant confinement and deprivation of all that is natural to them. The public has come to see that these animals are victims, not willing performers. Illinois has taken a monumental step in ending this outdated form of entertainment, and we urge other cities and states to follow suit.

Over the last few years, the abuse and trauma that these majestic creatures face has been exposed and well publicized, leading to a fall in popularity for circuses and shows that use animal performers.

^{Source: PETA}

Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects on animals of being used in circuses which show that these highly intelligent creatures are seriously damaged by lives in captivity. The shows that they are forced to perform in require unnatural behavior and stunts, which cause physical and psychological problems.

They are often kept in enclosures that are too small and not given enough enrichment in their day-to-day lives, as well as being forced to give people rides on their backs, which has been proved to be damaging to the animals.

^{Source: Carson and Barnes}

While some people complain that this means that children will not be able to see these beautiful creatures up close anymore, once-in-a-lifetime experiences should not come at the expense of an elephant’s freedom and well-being.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

^{Source: iStock.com}

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post VICTORY. Illinois Becomes First State To Officially Ban Elephants In Circuses appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

A tiger was shot and killed on Wednesday morning after being seen near a highway in Atlanta, Georgia.

6-year-old Suzy, a member of the endangered Bengal Tiger species, was killed by police officers on September 6 after she headed into a residential neighborhood, Meadow Brook. In a Facebook post released onto the Henry County Police Department’s page, they said that the difficult decision to put down the tiger was made because she allegedly attacked a dog, who is unharmed, and there were fears for the public’s safety:

With the tiger in close proximity to a school bus route in a densely populated area, officers made the decision to put the animal down with gunfire fearing that occupants of the home could be in danger as well as others in the area. 

When Suzy’s body was examined, a microchip revealed that she was a former performing animal from the recently closed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus.

She, along with 13 other big cats, were being transported to Tennessee to be returned to their handler, Alexander Lacey.

In a statement released by Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company, spokesman Stephen Payne said:

We stopped in Georgia to feed and water the cats and for a quick rest break for the driver, and that’s where we believe the animal escaped and was later confronted by law enforcement. They’ve been raised around people their entire lives, so they’re comfortable around people. 

He also said that no one knows how Suzy escaped; the driver didn’t realize that she was missing until they got to Tennessee.

^{Source: Jay Pratt}

Sadly, it seems that the surviving 13 big cats will not be retired. According to Payne, they will be taken to Germany, probably to join another circus.

Numerous studies have been conducted on the effects on animals of being used in circuses which show that these highly intelligent creatures are seriously damaged by lives in captivity. The shows that they are forced to perform in require unnatural behavior and stunts, which cause physical and psychological problems.

^{Source: Rebecca Blackwell/AP}

There is a long and cruel history in the keeping of wild animals, and circuses have been notorious in their use of brutal training methods, including elephants prodded with sharp sticks called bullhooks and tigers whipped into submission.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

^{Source: Positivfr}

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions

^{H/t: ABC News/The Dodo}

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post Terrified Tiger Shot Dead By Police After Escaping Famous Circus Company appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

On October 8, a circus bear violently turned on one of his trainers in the middle of a show in Syktyvkar, Russia. The bear, pulled onto the  stage with a rope tied to a muzzle, was made to stand on his back legs and turn in a circle.

The animal then lurched towards the man holding his rope, chasing him to the back of the stage and knocking him to the floor. A stagehand approached the pair rapidly, beating the bear forcefully over the head with a stick. The now frightened bear backed up, cowering before his trainer before continuing the show.

^{Source: YouTube}

PETA, who shared the video, taken by an audience member, online, has taken the opportunity to denounce the cruel conditions that bears are kept and trained in, while inhumanely made to perform in circuses.

There, these creatures face widescale abuse to learn tricks, most of which go completely against their natural behavior and instincts. Their training is based upon submission,meaning that every day they are subjected to violence to coerce them into performing.

Their living conditions are also deplorable, meaning that they often display signs of psychological distress, physical pain and neglect.

^{Source: YouTube}

An inspector for PETA’s Asian branch recently went undercover to reveal what conditions are like in training centers for Chinese circuses. Their findings were highly distressing; bear cubs chained by the neck to force them to stand on their back legs, monkeys kept in minuscule cages, tigers beaten into submission… The examples of abuse were numerous and horrific.

^{Source: YouTube}

The sad truth is that these industries only thrive because of demand from the public; change must come from us. Already this year, many cities such as New York City and Los Angeles have made steps to outlaw this cruel form of ‘entertainment’, but it still lives on throughout the world.

You can make a pledge to not support this horrendous industry by clicking here. You can also make a donation to the Performing Animal Welfare Society, which protects abused and retired performing animals, by clicking here.

Watch the video of the incident below:

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post In The Middle Of A Show This Bear Finally Snaps At His Abusive Trainer (Video) appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

Animal lovers all over the world have something to smile about after Italy, Ireland and India have banned animal performers in circuses, joining over 40 other countries as well as cities and counties all over the world.

From January 1 2018, Irish circuses will not be able to use animals in their shows, reinforcing legislation safeguarding animal welfare put into place in 2013. Michael Creed, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, said:

The use of wild animals for entertainment purposes in circuses can no longer be permitted. This is the general view of the public at large and a position I am happy to endorse.

^{Source: Valery Hache}

Circuses that ignore the ban could face fines of 250,000 euros (around $300,000, or £200,000). Prison sentences of up to 5 years have also been proposed. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and PETA have released statements praising the decision, which is the latest in a worldwide trend against animal exploitation in circuses. A statement from the ISPCA declared:

Coercing wild animals into doing tricks, which are actually abnormal behaviours for these animals, for human entertainment is outdated and it is right that it is being consigned to the history books where it belongs.

Before Ireland’s announcement, the spotlight was on Italy and India, who banned animal performers in circuses on November 8 and the end of October respectively. The Italian government, who have banned all animals, not just those who are wild from performing, will work out how to phase the thousands of creatures currently owned by circuses out of the industry within a year.

The Indian ministry of environment, forests and climate change decided upon the move after a year long investigation, during which they witnessed widespread animal abuse. The conclusion was that animal cruelty was inherent in circuses, as wild animals ‘undergo unnecessary pain and suffering when they are trained and forced to perform‘.

^{Source: Dauphin Libre}

As can be expected, the circus industry has been less happy about the announcements. Following a recent ban on circus animals in the French county of Bastia, Solovich Dumas, director of French circus Le Grand cirque de Rome, told newspaper Le Figaro:

The people who call us animal abusers think that they know animals, but they’re wrong. We live with them from the moment they’re born, we’ve learnt to respect them, to teach them, and we pass this knowledge on to our children. 

^{Source: PETA}

However, several investigations into the training of circus animals all over the world has shown that abusive practices are often used to force the animals into submission. In addition, life on the road also keeps the animals from getting enclosures that are big enough to keep them happy and healthy.

While some people complain that this means that children will not be able to see wild creatures up close anymore, once-in-a-lifetime experiences should not come at the expense of an animal’s freedom and well-being.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape a life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

^{H/t: Le Figaro/Huffington Post}

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post VICTORY. Italy, Ireland And India Just Banned Wild Animals From Performing In Circuses appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

An escaped circus tiger, shot dead on the streets of Paris on Friday November 24, has renewed calls for animals to be banned from performing. Mevy, who was 18 months old, escaped from Cirque Bormann-Moreno (Bormann-Moreno Circus), which was setting up in the 15th arrondissement (district) of the city when she somehow escaped from her cage.

She roamed the streets of the area, close to the Eiffel Tower, before being shot by the circus’s owner.

EN DIRECT. Paris : un fauve s'échappe d'un cirque dans le 15e arrondissement, la RATP interrompt la circulation de la ligne 3 du tramway https://t.co/x1OpdxFn67 pic.twitter.com/JWalmykZWi

— franceinfo (@franceinfo) November 24, 2017

The animal was seen by many people in what is a densely populated residential and business area, causing traffic for some of the city’s metro lines to be briefly interrupted while she was being tracked down.

Police and firefighters quickly arrived to try and keep her in one place, with witnesses reporting hearing shots shortly before the tiger was killed.

^{Source: France Info}

“We saw everything from the windows. We saw it run. It’s so sad.”

Mevy eventually tried to hide near a tram line, but was found and shot within 10 minutes by her ‘owner’. According to reports, she was killed in an alleyway, although Le Parisien reported that she had been hiding in square Carlo Sarrabezolles.

“We saw everything from the windows. We saw it run. It’s so sad.”, said one over the neighborhood’s residents to journalist Margaux Duguet, who was posting live updates on Twitter throughout the incident.

Coup de feu dans le quinzième arrondissement de Paris. Le #Tigre qui s'est échappé du cirque a été neutralisé. pic.twitter.com/E94ETwNORt

— Sam (@SamiaKidari) November 24, 2017

An inquest has been opened; animal welfare groups mobilize 

An inquest into Mevy’s death has been opened by the local authority. The circus owner who shot her was taken into custody and has since claimed that the lock on Mevy’s enclosure had been cut. He added that tranquilizing her was not as option as she could have harmed a member of the public before the dart could knock her out.

Outrage over the death has exploded over social media, with people from all over the world expressing their sadness and demanding that performing animals be banned from circuses.

The tiger’s body. Source: France Info

French organization One Voice have echoed these sentiments, lodging a complaint against Cirque Bormann-Moreno, while the Brigitte Bardot Foundation has again called for France to follow countries like Italy and India in banning circuses like this from the country.

«tout danger est à présent écarté, l'animal aurait été "neutralisé"» cela signifie que le #tigre a été abattu en plein @Paris, lieu de vie classique chez les #fauves. Et les animaux sont en sécurité dans les #cirques?! On dépose plainte #CirquesSansAnimaux https://t.co/DQzBsvAcd5

— One Voice (@onevoiceanimal) November 24, 2017

The end of animal circuses in Paris? 

Mevy’s brutal death comes just days after a group of 15 Parisian philosophers, scientists and historians released a formal demand for the city of Paris to stop welcoming circuses with wild animals to the city. A petition supporting the demand has attracted over 29,000 signatures so far.

The case is also similar to the controversial death of a former Ringling Bros. tiger, Suzy, who was shot dead in Atlanta, Georgia, after escaping a transport truck in the U.S.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that these trends continue, so that we can leave wild animal circuses in the past.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post Circus Tiger Shot Dead By Ringleader On The Streets Of Paris. The Internet Is Outraged appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

Following on from Italy, Ireland and India two months ago, the Scottish government has announced that they will be banning the use of wild animals in circuses, making it the first country in the United Kingdom to do so.

The new legislation was passed on December 20 after a debate, with British animal welfare campaigners hoping that this will lead to England and Wales following on from their good example soon.

^{Source: Valery Hache}

It was proposed by Roseanna Cunningham, Scotland’s environment secretary, who said that they had made what counts as a ‘wild animal’ deliberately vague when writing the bill, so that courts will be able to protect as many animals as possible.

She said in a statement:

This is an important act that will not only prevent travelling circuses ever showing wild animals in Scotland in the future, but will demonstrate to the wider world that we are one of the growing number of countries that no longer condones the use of wild animals in this way.

^{Source: Positivfr}

Although there has been some criticism, saying that the bill doesn’t do enough for other types of ‘performance’, such as greyhound racing, animal welfare groups have been celebrating the move as a step forward for Britain.

This news follows the massive controversy the British government caused after removing legislation saying that animals were sentient at the end of November. They later said that they would acknowledge this when rewriting laws after Brexit.

This tiger was forced to balance and walk on a ball while a trainer stood close by with a pole to hit and jab her if she failed to perform. Source: Peta

Elisa Allen, Peta’s director, said:

These animals are understandably frustrated, stressed and depressed from a lifetime of being denied the opportunity to do anything that’s natural and important to them, kept caged in trailers that are hauled around the country, and forced to perform confusing tricks under the big top out of some Victorian-era sense of amusement.

 

Let’s hope the progress in Holyrood serves to light a fire under the government in Westminster, which, despite years of promising to bring in a ban, continues to sit back and do nothing as England falls further and further behind the growing number of countries putting a stop to these cruel institutions.

2017 has seen many countries, cities and states ban the use of wild animals in performances. We can only hope that this trend continues in 2018.

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post VICTORY. Scotland Has Just Banned The Use Of Wild Animals In Circuses appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

A circus in Vladivostok, Russia, caused a wave of outrage after photos of their lionesses appeared online. The source of the controversy was the fact that the lionesses seem to be very obese. They are appearing in a show called The Empire of Lionesses.

^{Source: PrimaMedia}

Faced with growing anger nationwide, Vitaly Smolyanets, a tamer and the circus’ artistic director, defended himself to PrimaMedia, a Russian media site, saying that the animals were overweight because they had large appetites and were quite old.

However, this explanation didn’t satisfy animal welfare groups, who said that it was probably a mixture of overfeeding and a lack of exercise brought on by being kept in tiny cages for most of their lives.

^{Source: PrimaMedia}

Smolyanets denies all accusations of abuse, arguing that the lionesses get enough exercise from rehearsing three hours a day. As for food, he said that the big cats eat six kilos of meat and 1 liter of milk every day, along with supplementary vitamins.

^{Source: PrimaMedia}

Despite the tamer’s claims, many people have demanded that the Russian authorities investigate the circus to ensure that the animals are being treated properly.

In general, captivity has nasty consequences on animals’ physical and mental health. Repetitive behavior, depression and aggression are common problems at circuses, poorly maintained zoos and marine parks.

More and more cities and states are starting to see the cruelty that often leads up to these spectacles, and animal lovers can only hope that soon we will leave wild animal circuses in the past.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

^{H/t: Démotivateur}

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At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!

The post Russia: Photos Of Overweight Circus Lions Cause Wave Of Anger Online appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

In October 2017, French circus le cirque Muller decided to display a tiger cub outside of a school, as an advertising stunt aimed at children. One voice, a French animal rights association, denounced the ploy as dangerous and manipulative, and called for an end to these sorts of ‘techniques’.

One Voice called the cub’s health into question, as it looked far too young to be away from its mom, and reminded the public that tigers, even baby ones, are wild animals, who should not be forced to lives their lives in a cage.

They concluded by saying that, by using a cute tiger cub in their marketing, the circus was hiding the truth about what wild animals face while living in captivity.

^{Source: One Voice}

The organization, which has called the local authorities, has demanded information on the cub’s whereabouts and health, as well as for the circus to stop operating.

Captivity: a living hell

The effect of captivity on wild animals has been well documented and is a hot topic of conservation today. Pacing, depression, physical injury and psychological stress are common in facilities that can’t (or won’t) properly care for their animals.

Places that force their animals to perform and act against their instincts risk traumatizing them and driving them to aggression.

If you would like to contribute to helping circus animals escape this life of misery, you can donate to organizations like Performing Animal Welfare Society, who work to offer exploited, wild animals better-living conditions.

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At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (they’re going to love it). You can count on us!

The post French Circus Stirs Controversy After Displaying Tiger Cub In Front Of A School appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

In just a few days, three animals from the famous Medrano circus have died, including two in Orléans, northern France. The sudden disappearance of the tiger, zebu and llama have caused mass outrage all over social media.

The first is said to have died from a disease while the other two reportedly fell victim to poisoning, according to France Bleu Orléans (article in French).

^{Source: La Depeche}

They were all in perfect condition

It all started last week when a 12 year-old tigress was euthanized after it was discovered she had kidney failure. Artistic director of the circus, Christophie Henry said that “the tigress did not die in Orléans but in Nantes. She was transported to the Orléans city as this is where the butcher was.”

Information which has been confirmed by State services has found no evidence of abuse.

On Thursday March 1, a zebu died “brutally with his body convulsing” according to veterinarian Vincent Bosquet. The same vet was also brought in to check the llama. He said:

The animal was not fit and by the time I arrived, he had died. Two hours before he was absolutely fine! This is very suggestive of poisoning, although we hope that this was not an act of malicious intent, but this sadly remains highly likely.

Bosquet also said that they could not have been abused either saying that he “examined all the animals three times in the space of 24 hours, and they were all in perfect condition”.

^{Source: France Bleu}

Against everything we stand for

Two camels were also shivering in the night from Friday to Saturday but luckily, they were both saved in time.

^{Source: La Republique du Centre}

Animal protection organisations who protested before the circus, claim that the circus itself was at fault for the deaths. Alexandra Morette, regional representative of 269Life said:

It would be very strange for animalists to attack animals! It would go against everything we stand for. We are so close to victory that we do not need to poison animals to win.

^{Source: France Bleu}

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On April 2, a road accident in Spain lead to some unusual victims: one elephant died on the spot while two were seriously injured after the lorry they were in overturned.

The lorry belonged to Gottani circus and was transporting five elephants, according to The Telegraph. The incident took place near Albacete, a town south east of Madrid.

^{Source: EPA/MANU}

The driver of the lorry allegedly lost control after overtaking a vehicle and attempting to return to the slow lane.

One of the elephants sadly died and was found lying in a ditch by the roadside. The four others escaped the crash along with their lives and started grazing on the nearby grass area. The driver also survived the crash.

^{Source: EPA/MANU}

The police immediately closed the road to avoid any further accidents and made sure the animals were taken to safety as soon as possible. A spokesperson for the DGT, the organisation in charge of road safety in Spain, Gregorio Serrano said:

The elephants injured in the accident that has happened in Albacete are being assisted and removed. Of the five animals one has died and two have been injured. Shortly the A30 will be reopened.

Curious drivers stopped and took pictures of the accident, sharing the pictures and the story on Twitter.

^{Source: ASA}

Silvia Barquero, the president of Spanish animal welfare political party PACMA, said the animals belonged to the Gottani Circus, which has performed several shows in the area over Easter.

The lorry that has overturned was carrying Circo Gottani elephants. Show them more kindness. We treat animals like slaves. Enough of circuses that use animals.

The post Circus Elephant Dead And Two Hurt After Road Accident In Spain appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

When the death of an elephant in a road accident in Spain recently revived the debate on the captivity of wild animals in circuses, the charity Animal Defenders International shared a video showing elephants in a circus behaving abnormally.

It is not necessarily obvious what the problem is in the video as we are unaware of an elephant’s natural behaviour.

^{Source: Screenshot / Animal Defenders International}

In the pictures, filmed at the Garden Brothers circus in the United States, you can see the elephants swinging back and forth continuously. These repetitive movements carried out over a long period of time have a scientific name: zoochosis.

A combination of the words “zoo” and “psychosis”, zoochosis was a term coined in 1992 to describe the compulsive behaviour of animals kept in captivity.

Zoochosis reflects a strong malaise and a great stress in the animals which suffer from it.

It can show itself in many different ways, such as self-harm, vomiting, obsessive cleaning, coprophagia (eating your own faeces), long moments of nodding and swaying back and forth.

Maya the elephant held in captivity by a french circus. Source: One Voice

In America, some elephants, like Nosey, managed to reclaim their freedom in a sanctuary for elephants. But circuses with wild animals are still very much prevalent in the country, and around the globe.

You can watch the Animal Defenders International video below:

^{Source: One Green Planet}

The post Zoochosis: New Video Reveals The Great Malaise Of Elephants In Circuses appeared first on Holidog Times EN.

In 2016, animal welfare organisation Animals Asia, contacted UNESCO about a monkey circus that had become a prime tourist attraction in Vietnam. The circus, which featured blindfolded monkeys riding bicycles while cowering in fear, was UNESCO accredited, despite its clear violation of animal welfare laws.

^{Source: Pinterest}

After over 40,000 activists came forward to lend their voice to a petition, UNESCO removed its accreditation to the circus, leading it to be shut down. An absolutely incredible win for the monkeys and animal rights activists alike.

Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director, Dave Neale said:

There is still widespread confusion in Vietnam about what constitutes animal cruelty and the fact that a UNESCO-accredited facility hosted a macaque circus really muddied the water for a lot of people. UNESCO’s actions were sanctioning the confinement, humiliation and exploitation of animals for entertainment so it is crucial that their backing has been removed from an industry mired in serious animal abuse.

^{Source: National Geographic}

Deputy Director of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Le Van Sinh explained the reasoning behind the closure of the monkey circus:

We received feedback from Animals Asia and the public against the use of wild animals and came to realize that it is both unnecessary and inhumane to treat animals this way … We asked the Ho Chi Minh City’s People Committee and the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to stop the circus. The city government recognized the negative impact on the city’s tourism and decided to have the circus closed down.

However, while the closing of the circus is important in terms of ending animal abuse in the country, it will likely not mark the end of the suffering for the individual macaques used in the show.

The macaques abused in the circus belong to the Long Phu corporation, a private company specialising in animal performance. The monkeys will reportedly return to their owners and continue to perform.

^{Source: Animals Asia}

Neale said that the animal performance industry is very much at a crossroads at the moment and there is no telling whether it could expand as people choose to invest or die out as the country develops. An Animals Asia investigation in 2017 revealed that at least 200 macaques are forced to perform across a dozen or so entertainment parks, zoos and tourist attractions in Vietnam.

Just recently, a poignant video was released, revealing the devastating effects that being held in captivity has on animals.

^{H/t: Animals Asia}

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On May 30 2018, French charity, 30 Million d’Amis, came to the rescue of four circus lions in Rétiers, Ille-et-Vilaine, northwestern France. The animals were entrusted to the charity by the Bostok circus.

^{Source: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

The owner of the circus, James Cook, decided to stop his activities with wild animals, preferring to leave them to a charity, rather than sell them to another circus.

^{Source: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

30 Million d’Amis collected 3 lionesses and 1 lion, who will very soon be transferred to the sanctuary Tonga Terre d’Accueil. During their journey to the sanctuary, they will be accompanied by a wildlife veterinarian.

^{Source: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

Once they’ve arrived at the sanctuary, they will be placed in quarantine, before going to a building specially designed for wild animals which has been financed with 100 000 euros by the 30 Million d’Amis.

^{Source: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

Reha Hutin, head of 30 Million d’Amis, said:

Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a place for these animals: the partners with whom we collaborate, in France and abroad, being already full. That is why it is imperative that France in turn commits itself to banning wild animals in circuses and prepare for this inevitable transition.

 

^{Source: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

^{H/t: Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis}

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In a shocking new video, a bear in Volgograd, Russia, can be seen being pushed down a ramp on a skateboard during a circus performance. Upon reaching the bottom, a trainer grabs the chain attached to the bear’s head, trying to get him to perform another trick. Clearly terrified at the prospect of doing this, the bear runs away.

^{Screenshot of the video showing the trainer beating the bear with a stick after he runs away. Source: Youtube}

Pandemonium soon ensues with panicked cries coming from the audience and a second and third trainer entering the ring to beat the bear with sticks for disobeying. The bear fights back, grabbing the trainer who’s beating him and tackling him to the ground.

Soon enough, the bear lets go of the trainer who stands up and is able to walk away. The bear, who appears to be even more scared than before, starts rocking back and forth against the edge of the arena.

The video, which was presumably filmed by a member of the audience, has once again called into question the absurdity of using wild animals for entertainment purposes.

^{Screenshot of the video showing the two trainers hitting the bear who’s grabbing the third trainer. Source: Youtube}

According to The Dodo, Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International (ADI), said in a statement after the video was released on Russian social media:

Using wild animals in circuses is a recipe for disaster, putting animals and the public in harm’s way. With animal welfare inevitably compromised and circuses unable to provide for their needs, it’s time for Russia to step up and take action to stop circus suffering before tragedy strikes.

This is by no means the first time Russia has come under fire for their treatment of bears. If you recall, in April, a video was released of a circus bear named Tim performing a trick on a Russian soccer field, causing mass outrage. Tim was recently exploited again, being made to blow into a vuvuzela during a street parade following Russia’s World Cup victory. Creamer said:

It is sickening to see Tim the bear, or any wild animal, being exploited in this way, with absolute disregard for their well-being, their physical needs, and the safety of the public. Thankfully, governments around the world are taking action to end such shameful scenes. For animals like poor Tim, change cannot come soon enough.

Instances like the ones above are sadly very common in Russia with circus bears all over the country having to endure brutal training processes to get them to perform the way they do. DJ Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), told The Dodo in April:

No wild animal should be used as a prop or forced to perform unnatural acts for our entertainment. What may appear to a spectator to be a few moments of levity … conceals the true story of these animals’ lives. Theirs is a tedious, barren, wholly unnatural existence that all too often involves abusive training techniques, inadequate housing, and poor veterinary care.

When animals retaliate or attack their owners, like the circus bear mentioned above, this is too often due to them getting scared or fed up. While it’s not clear what happened to him after the show, it’s likely that the trainer severely punished the bear for his behavior.

^{Screenshot of the video showing the bear cowering at the side of the ring. Source: Youtube}

If you would like to help put a stop to these cruel practices and end wild animals being used in circus’ once and for all, then you can make a donation to the ADI here.

^{H/t: The Dodo}

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