Persuasive Essay On Circus Animals

A.D. Williams, brother to Martin Luther King Jr. and football player for the Green Bay Packers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Minnesota Vikings, once said, “When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.” Animals were first introduced to circuses in 1782 in a circus known as the Amphithéâtre Anglois in Paris. However, back then the animal that was featured in circuses were primarily horses. In the early 1800’s elephants and large cats started being used. Michigan State University states, “The AWA (Animal Welfare Association) is the only federal law that directly regulates circus animals”(“Animal Law”). Circus animals dont deserve to be abused for human pleasure and for circus owner profits. The use of animals in circuses should be banned. Although supporters claim that circus animals receive

In addition, circus animals put human lives at risk and are abused on a daily basis.
Although supporters of circuses argue that circus animals receive necessary veterinary care, many circus animals die due to neglect each and every year. Defenders of circuses claim that “Under federal regulations, sick elephants must get prompt medical care and a veterinarian 's okay before performing” (Nelson). Supporters of circuses dont see the harm of using circus elephants because there are laws that enforce circuses to give sick elephants veterinary care. However, it is very rare that the circus trainers abide to these guidelines. PETA states, “The USDA cited Ringling for failing to maintain an adequate program of veterinary care for three elephants. The facility’s veterinarians prescribed daily treatments for these elephants, but the treatment logs showed one- to four-day gaps, during which time treatments were not given”(“Ringling Bros. and Barnum &