It is now the 21st century and about time that the use of animals in the entertainment industry becomes a thing of the past. Already, with new information arising about the abuse of animals via films such as Blackfish, people have taken the initiative to avoid establishments such as SeaWorld and the circus. Yet, it is a wonder that people have only become so focused after the advent of a film. Outside of what is already exposed on television and the Internet, there still exist a variety of institutions that hold animals in need of a compassionate hand.

Santa's Enchanted Forest is not an exception. Anyone who has visited their park can plainly see the neglect of the animals. Upon entering the park, one quickly comes upon the pony ride, where the ponies are subject to continuously walking in circles all day with no available source of water or a break in sight. Walking still down the entrance, the same poor level of treatment can be found for goats and deer. The park also features white tigers being forced to perform humiliating tricks as well as a sea lion show and a multitude of other confined animals. Their petting zoo is comparable to a makeshift hut where the monkeys and apes, among others, are kept in tiny, filthy cages with absolutely no source of stimulation other than waiting for some unknowing person to feed them a grape through a metal tube. This is no way to treat such sensitive, intelligent beings. The elephant featured in the picture is named Dondi, a former performer at Santa's who passed away in 2010. The ARFF protested numerous times on her behalf to release her to a sanctuary where she could live a normal life and interact with other elephants, but despite their efforts she passed away without ever getting to experience a life without chains.

The aforementioned abuses are only the ones that you can physically witness upon entering the park. Further cruelty is hidden behind curtains, where the public is kept in the dark. Animals used in shows are subject to cruel training procedures, of the same nature as those exposed in other entertainment industries, including beatings, food deprivation, and electric shocks.

And inside the park is not where the cruelty stops. Santa's Enchanted Forest is open for about two months of the year; during off-season the animals are transported off location. At this point they are subjected to endure long trips in tiny, crowded transport cages with inadequate shelter from the elements. Many can easily sicken or die from overheating and dehydration or improper nutrition.

Every purchase of a ticket into the park supports the abuse of animals and allows each day to be another day of trauma for these animals. After years of not attending Santa's Enchanted Forest, I realize that my own refusal to enter the park cannot be of use unless a viable amount of awareness is raised. And so, the purpose of my petition is to do just that. I want to send a message to Santa's Enchanted Forest CEO Brian Shechtman that it is not ok to treat animals this way and that his park would be a lot better and a lot more family friendly if he removes all animal attractions and replaces them with more rides or shows feauturing only humans.