PETA causes scene in Florence

PETA Assistant Campaign Coordinator for International Grassroots Campaigns Virginia Fort speaks with passerby Angela Hatchell of Florence as activist Olivia Mora of Boston portrays a caged tiger during a PETA protest against the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Florence on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. Mora wore little more than her painted tiger stripes to "expose Ringling's abusive treatment of animals."

By: Kelly Gillespie | SCNow
Published: January 28, 2009

A painted woman in a tiny cage caused a scene Tuesday in downtown Florence to call attention to what she and others consider the plight of circus animals.

PETA representatives also passed out information and held up signs to protest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which will present the Boom A Ring circus event from Feb. 6 through Feb. 8 at Florence Civic Center.

“We want to hand out as much information as possible in order to get word of mouth spreading about what’s going on behind the scenes (of the circus)” PETA spokeswoman Virginia Fort said.

PETA representatives said they’re going to each circus location before the show arrives.

“This is nothing new and happens almost every week, but unfortunately they’re picking on the wrong show,” Ringling Brothers Production Manager James Gibson said. “They always fail to mention we have a research center in central Florida for elephants, and we are trying to prevent them from becoming extinct.”

Fort said that doesn’t make up for how animals are treated in a circus.

“Elephants and other animals are shackled and left in tiny cages and are beaten in order to force them to perform for them,” she said. “It’s very confusing and unnatural tricks.”

Ringling Brothers denies that claim.

“When we train our animals, we do not use force, and the animals are trained with their natural behaviors,” Gibson said.

PETA representatives said they hope people realize the caged activist chose to be in such a display, while the circus animals do not.

“She’ out here representing the animals in the circus who are hauled around the country for up to 50 weeks out of the year in poorly-ventilated boxcars and trailers, often times without proper access to food, water or veterinary care,” Frost said.

Ringling Brothers, meanwhile, said the truth is inside the ring.

“We love our animals and are open to inspections on a local, state and federal level at anytime,” Gibson said. “A veterinarian tech is on staff, and we have on-call veterinarians in every town.”

PETA representatives told News13 their next stop is Fayetteville, N.C., where the circus is set to perform next.