Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to your town.
What a shame.
Now and until early next year, trucks or train box cars filled with chained Barnum & Bailey Circus animal “performers” are rolling into cities across the country.
When the elephants, monkeys, big cats, and other circus animals aren’t imprisoned in trucks and trains for upwards of 26 hours at a time, these members of the animal kingdom are doing the tricks taught by torture. “Torture’ isn’t hyperbole – it’s the truest word for the electric shocks, beatings, and lifetimes of pervasive neglect exhaustively documented by reports, investigations, photos, videos, and personal accounts.
If you don’t find animal cruelty entertaining, or don’t believe seeing elephants doing curtsies teaches kids anything positive, you’re in good – and kind – company. So why not boycott the big top and celebrate life with animals and fellow animal lovers instead?
Global Animal is working to support two real ways animal lovers can take action against circus animal abuse. We propose:
1. That every city that welcomes the Ringling Bros. circus be a place of peaceful protest.
However big or small, a group of people willing stand on behalf of the circus’ chain gang of enslaved animals sends an unmistakable message of compassion. By their presence, they fling open the doors of awareness for others who might otherwise not know. They shine light on dark. The vision is for all circus animals to be retired so they can live their remaining years in peace. The goal is to usher in the day when the circus is animal and cruelty-free.
2. That there be an alternative event for kids (of all ages) to connect with animals in a compassionate way.
An extraordinary alternative to a day at the circus is a fun day at an animal sanctuary or rescue. Whether it’s an afternoon at a farm sanctuary feeding goats, or walking dogs at a pet adoption fair, exploring a wildlife preserve, or dancing at a fundraising party at an animal shelter, there are many excellent options to celebrate our connection to animals. It’s the soul-soaring material that memories are made of. And the stuff that develops great kids, too.
If you are interested in being an organizer for a circus protest and/or an alternative animal-friendly event in one of these cities, please let others know in the comments section below. Just add your city and any additional information you’d like in the comment field. Feel free to use this page’s comments section for communicating and sharing resources and ideas for protests and alternative events with other like-minded people. Please include a contact email address in your comment if you’d like to get going right away.
Once there are a few cities ready to charge the way, Global Animal will update the circus schedule below with email contact information for organizers by city.
So, you didn’t join the circus as a kid. Now you can join the circus protest. And that’s where amazing things really can happen.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE CIRCUS:
Barnum’s Circus: The Big Top of Elephant Neglect & Torture
What Does The Circus Really Teach Kids About Animals?
Anne, Abused Circus Elephant, Finds New Home
Hundreds Protest Mistreatment Of Circus Animals
GA
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus schedule.
These are the dates, by city, for planning peaceful protests and alternative animal-friendly events.
For more information on the circus and protests near you, click here.
ARKANSAS
Little Rock, Arkansas
July 26, 2012 – July 29, 2012
Arkansas Native Plant & Wildlife Center At the base of Rich Mountain at the intersection of Hwy 270 and Hwy 272 Rich Mountain, AR 71953 (479) 437-3750
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, California
July 11, 2012 – July 17, 2012
Ontario, California
July 20, 2012 – July 24, 2012
Anaheim, California
July 27, 2012 – August 05, 2012
Oakland, California
August 08, 2012 – August 12, 2012
San Jose, California
August 15, 2012 – August 19, 2012
San Diego, California
August 23, 2012 – August 26, 2012
Bakersfield, California
August 30, 2012 – September 02, 2012
Sacramento, California
September 06, 2012 – September 09, 2012
Stockton, California
September 13, 2012 – September 16, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternatives:Animal Acres/Farm Sanctuary 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd Acton, CA 93510 (661) 269-5404
Farm Sanctuary 19080 Newville Road West Tehama CA 96021 (530) 865-4617
COLORADO
Denver, Colorado
September 27, 2012 – October 07, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternative:The Wild Animal Sanctuary 1946 County Road 53, Keenesburg, CO 80643 (303) 536-0118
CONNECTICUT
Bridgeport, Connecticut
October 18, 2012 – October 21, 2012
D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia
March 20, 2013 – March 24, 2013
FLORIDA
Miami, Florida
January 11, 2013 – January 21, 2013
GEORGIA
Atlanta, Georgia
February 13, 2013 – February 18, 2013
Duluth, Georgia
February 21, 2013 – March 03, 2013
IDAHO
Nampa, Idaho
September 07, 2012 – September 09, 2012
ILLINOIS
Moline, Illinois
August 31, 2012 – September 03, 2012
Peoria, Illinois
October 12, 2012 – October 14, 2012
Champaign, Illinois
October 19, 2012 – October 21, 2012
Rosemont, Illinois
November 01, 2012 – November 11, 2012
Chicago, Illinois
November 14, 2012 – November 25, 2012
INDIANA
Indianapolis, Indiana
November 29, 2012 – December 02, 2012
IOWA
Des Moines, Iowa
October 04, 2012 – October 07, 2012
KANSAS
Topeka, Kansas
August 10, 2012 – August 12, 2012
KENTUCKY
Lexington, Kentucky
September 06, 2012 – September 09, 2012
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
August 02, 2012 – August 05, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternative:Global Wildlife Center 26389 Hwy. 40 Folsom, LA 70437 (985) 796-3585 ext. 10.
MARYLAND
Baltimore, Maryland
March 27, 2013 – April 07, 2013
MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester, Massachusetts
October 03, 2012 – October 08, 2012
Boston, Massachusetts
October 10, 2012 – October 14, 2012
MICHIGAN:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
September 20, 2012 – September 23, 2012
Auburn Hills, Michigan
November 07, 2012 – November 11, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternative:SASHA Farm 17901 Mahrle Road in Manchester, Michigan. (734) 428-9617
MISSOURI:
Kansas City, Missouri
September 12, 2012 – September 16, 2012
St. Louis, Missouri
October 11, 2012 – October 14, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternatives:Long Meadow Rescue Ranch 480 Joseph Rd. Union, MO 63084 (314) 646-5686
Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center 1128 New Ballwin Road Ballwin, MO 63021 (636) 394-1880
MONTANA
Billings, Montana
September 20, 2012 – September 23, 2012
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck, North Dakota
September 28, 2012 – September 30, 2012
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte, North Carolina
January 30, 2013 – February 03, 2013
Raleigh, North Carolina
February 06, 2013 – February 10, 2013
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manchester, New Hampshire
September 27, 2012 – September 30, 2012
NEW YORK
Rochester, New York
October 24, 2012 – October 28, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternatives:
Catskill Animal Sanctuary 316 Old Stage Road Saugerties, NY 12477 (845) 336-8447
Farm Sanctuary 3150 Aikens Rd Watkins Glen, NY 14891 607-583-2225 Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary 35 Van Wagner Road, Willow, NY. (845) 679-5955
OHIO
Cleveland, Ohio
October 17, 2012 – October 22, 2012
Toledo, Ohio
October 25, 2012 – October 28, 2012
Cincinnati, Ohio
March 13, 2013 – March 17, 2013
Animal-Friendly Alternative:Ohio Wildlife Center 6131 Cook Rd. Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 734-9453
OREGON
Portland, Oregon
September 13, 2012 – September 16, 2012
PENNSYLVANIA
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
October 25, 2012 – October 28, 2012
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 01, 2012 – November 04, 2012
TEXAS:
Beaumont, Texas
July 13, 2012 – July 15, 2012
Waco, Texas
July 19, 2012 – July 22, 2012
Houston, Texas
July 12, 2012 – July 29, 2012
Dallas, Texas
August 01, 2012 – August 12, 2012
Fort Worth, Texas
August 15, 2012 – August 19, 2012
Austin, Texas
August 22, 2012 – August 26, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternatives:
International Exotic Animal Sanctuary PR 4245, Rhome TX (940) 433-5091 Serenity Springs Sanctuary and Animal Rescue 2162 Merritt Road, Forestburg, TX 76239-3331 (940) 964-2318 In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue 3430 Skyview Drive, Wylie, TX 75098 (972) 442-6888 www.insyncexotics.org
UTAH
Salt Lake City, Utah
September 20, 2012 – September 24, 2012
Animal-Friendly Alternative:
Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Kanab Canyon Rd, Kanab, Utah 84741
VIRGINIA
Fairfax, Virginia
April 10, 2013 – April 21, 2013
WASHINGTON
Tacoma, Washington
August 17, 2012 – August 19, 2012
Everett, Washington
August 23, 2012 – August 26, 2012
Kent, Washington
August 31, 2012 – September 03, 2012
[…] beset by rising insurance and fuel costs and opposed by animal rights groups, such as 2012’s Boycott the Big Top campaign. Many of America’s smaller carnivals and circuses are struggling to stay viable. A recent article […]
Please add Pittsburgh, pa to list ! Ringling Circus is coming Nov 10th at Consol Energy Center
Good luck and best wishes, Michelle.
I am planning a protest on September 6th and 7th in Lexington, Ky. I have all the materials, just need to get the word out!! [email protected] stream.net
Would anyone be interested in organizing something for the Rosemont and/or Chicago dates!