Keep circuses with animal acts out of PEI says Green Party
Millvale - The Green Party of PEI is calling on the Ghiz government to ban circuses that profit from the suffering of imprisoned wild animals. The Fabuleux Cirque Estival will be in Summerside and Charlottetown this week forcing wild animals, coerced by fear and pain, to perform meaningless tricks for the amusement of people who are unaware they are supporting cruelty.
"Circus owners claim they're not breaking any regulations and that animals are treated humanely," said Green Party leader Sharon Labchuk. "But the regulations are entirely inadequate and the very act of imprisoning animals wild by nature is cruel and unjust."
Labchuk said captive wild animals, especially circus animals confined to small cages for long periods of time, are denied normal lives that allow them to express the full range of their natural behaviour. Wild animals have the same need and desire as humans for socializing, freedom, raising families and the joy of living in their natural habitat.
"The psychological abuse inflicted on these poor imprisoned creatures, no matter how clean their cages or how well they're fed, is heartbreaking. Surely our own species is evolving to reject the idea that cruelty is entertainment and wild animals can be human property," said Labchuk. "Animal acts are banned in at least 30 Canadian municipalities and several countries. Animal abuse certainly doesn't fit in with the "gentle Island" image the province is tring to project."
The Green Party would enact legislation to keep circuses with wild animal acts out of PEI and completely overhaul the Province's animal protection laws to comply with the highest possible standards.
Contact: Sharon Labchuk 902-621-0719 or 902-940-1262