“Every night we got to bed, we get up that next morning with the intention of working better and harder for our babies. Our babies just happen to be 8-thousand pound elephants,” said Carson and Barnes spokesperson Jenny Wisener.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a truck carrying four elephants belonging to Carson and Barnes Circus out of Hugo broke down near Eufala, Okla. Wednesday.
Animal rights group PETA was unhappy at the news.
“It’s just shocking and appalling that Carson and Barnes Circus was hauling four elephants in a trailer that was apparently so old and shoddy that the floor literally fell out from under the elephants and caused grass fires,” said PETA spokesperson Rachel Matthews.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture said Friday the circus followed procedure under the Animal Welfare Act in getting the elephants to a safe location after the break down.
“Just like any other livestock, they are in the trailer,” said Wisener. “It is a specially-made trailer to haul them.”
PETA states on their website that Carson and Barnes has had several violations of the Animal Welfare Act and lists instances of sickness, poor food storage and animal escapes.
“Carson and Barnes has an assorted and lengthy history of animal abuse,” said Matthews.
According to the USDA website, Carson and Barnes has an active license under the Animal Welfare Act’s annual inspection, meaning the circus provides enough care to its animals to continue its business.
“They’re not abused. They’re not mistreated. They’re not beaten into submission,” said Wisener.
PETA’s motto states, “animals are not ours for entertainment.”
“Circuses chain animals inside cramped trailers, they haul them across the country for months at a time and as a result, they put their lives at risk,” said Matthews.
The circus says the elephants are considered family and are treated as such.
“We work diligently for the safety of our animals. And just like you would work diligently for the safety of your children, you’re never 100 percent satisfied with what you do. So you always work a little harder every day,” said Wisener.
Read the original article at kxii.com here.
