Animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. To force them to perform these confusing and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade that causes suffering. We applaud trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but let’s leave animals in peace. Sweden, Austria, Costa Rica, India, Finland, and Singapore have all banned or restricted the use of animals in entertainment—it’s time for the U.S. to do the same.
We are freedom fighters for animals and we want to make more of a difference by getting more freedom fighters involved. People who are willing to make a difference by boycotting circuses that use animals, informing the public about the abuse that occurs, passing out leaflets and helping document incidents of abuse at the circuses, and help petitioning the city and state to ban animal circuses. We want to meet people who care about the humane treatment of animals and fellow Austin citizens who will go the extra mile to ban this horrific act of crime from our beloved city.