Every year Carson and Barnes Circus comes to Rock Falls, Illinois, Carson and Barnes has a long history of abuse towards it's animals, especially the elephants. In circuses that use animal acts, bullhooks are standard. A bullhook resembles a fire poker, with two sharp points, although Carson and Barnes claims this tool is used to "lead" the elephants, it is common knowledge that it is used to inflict pain and to instill fear in the elephant, so that it remembers the pain and obeys the trainers. This abuse was documented by a PETA undercover investigator in March of 1999, in the video Tim Frisco (head trainer at the time) was filmed teaching other elephant trainers the way to handle the elephants. What proceeded was disturbing, Frisco can be heard telling the others to "Sink that hook into em', when you hear that screamin' then you know you got their attention.", he also goes on to show them that once the bullhook is sunk into the skin to twist it back and forth. He also calls the elephants filthy names and beats them when they don't do what they are told. Along with the constant abuse, Carson and Barnes circus has had constant USDA violations dating back to 1982, these violations can be seen here:

http://www.circuses.com/pdfs/carsonbarnes_fact.pdf

When they say that elephants have thick skin it couldn't be farther from the truth, elephants can feel the sting of a bug bite and can even feel a fly land on their back. Elephants have many sensitive spots including, their legs, behind their ears, their trunk, and their head which is the only spots trainers will focus on with the bullhooks. These animals in circuses face a lonely and tragic life, elephants in captivity have their life span cut short by 20 years, along with a laundry list of health problems and foot problems. Elephants travel 10's of miles everyday but in circuses they are confined and chained so that they can't move at all causing them to go insane, get depressed, get severe foot problems, arthritis and even death. In the wild elephants don't stand on their heads, balance on balls, or do any silly tricks, in fact these tricks cause severe pain to the elephants but they are so scared to be beaten that they do them anyway. 

In September 2004, PETA wrote to the Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce about Carson and Barnes urging them to not let Carson and Barnes or any other animal circus perform within the town. Along with the letter, the undercover footage and USDA violation sheet was included. Even with all the evidence in front of them the Chamber of Commerce still allows this circus to perform in our town year after year, knowing the abuse that takes place behind the scenes at Carson and Barnes. To this day they maintain that they have a "close relationship with the circus and are more than welcome to have them come and perform". We must let them know we will not tolerate this abuse and that we don't want animal circuses within our town.

We must give these animals a voice, if we don't do something for these animals these animals will suffer for minutes of "entertainment". These elephants live in fear their entire lives, unless we save them, don't attend circuses with animal acts.