Circuses

Policy Statement:  
The P.E.I. Humane Society opposes traveling circuses and other displays which include exotic or wild animal acts.
  
Background: 
Exotic animals include non-native species such as elephants, tigers and apes. Wild animals include native non-domesticated species such as bears and cougars. The P.E.I. Humane society believes that wild or exotic animals performing or on display in a traveling environment lack proper attention to their physical and social needs.  

In particular, the P.E.I.H.S. is concerned about: 

1. Problems associated with close confinement of the animals for long periods while touring, including the lack of exercise and other physical requirements, the inability to express natural behaviours and lack of appropriate socialization; and

2. The use of abusive, cruel or stressful training techniques or devices to induce the animals to perform in ways that are outside their normal range of behaviors. 
Although some promoters claim that animal circuses are educational, there is nothing beneficial to be learned about an animal or its role in the natural ecosystem by observing it performing tricks. You can help to reduce the use and abuse of exotic or wild animals in circuses by doing any or all of the following: Don’t go to animal circuses. Explain to your children why not.

I.  Explain your concerns to charities that sponsor animal circuses, and don’t buy tickets.

II. Speak out against animal circuses if they come to your area. Contact your local media  with your   concerns, as well as local sponsors and politicians.

III. Encourage your municipality to ban circuses using exotic or wild animals. Write letters to politicians asking for a ban on wild animal circuses.

IV. Support circuses that do not use wild or exotic animals, such as Le Cirque du Soleil.  

Rodeos  
2.1 P.E.I.H.S. is opposed in principle to rodeos and is working towards the ultimate abolition of this activity. 
 
2.2 P.E.I.H.S. recognizes that rodeo continues to be a regional tradition in some parts of Canada.  

2.3 P.E.I.H.S. believes that it can best reduce and end suffering of animals used in rodeo by targeting specific rodeo events for elimination. 

2.4 P.E.I.H.S. will actively pursue every means in its power to reduce and end suffering of animals used in rodeo events:  

a) by opposing additions to existing rodeos of new events that are likely to cause pain, suffering or injury to animals,  

b) by opposing further proliferation of rodeo events into regions where they are presently not held and/or where they are not a tradition  

c) by opposing those events that involve the throwing with ropes of any animal,  

d) by opposing events that involve wrestling or fighting with any animal,  

e) by opposing the use on any rodeo animal of any device likely to cause pain, suffering or injury, and that is solely employed to alter the animal’s natural behaviour or performance,

f) by opposing the continuance to completion of any event once an animal has been injured in the course of the event (e.g., animals injured during chuck wagon races).  

Approved by the Board May 1999