We ask that Chick-Fil-A chooses to do the right thing and stop all sponsorship of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus immediately.

In 2011 Ringling received the largest fine in history of $270,000 by the USDA for improper care of their animals. In 2009 videos and photographs began to surface of Ringling trainers beating elephants, horses and tigers back stage. More and more videos and photos are released of this type of abuse each year. Baby elephants are often bound by ropes while being stabbed with bullhooks or shocked into submission with electric prods. Ringling has failed to meet the minimum federal standards for care of animals used for exhibition since 2000. In 2004 a 2 year old lion died from heat stroke in one of the train cars while crossing the Mojave desert. The same year an 8 month old elephant was euthanized after breaking his hind legs falling from a circus pedestal. At least 30 elephants including 4 babies have died in Ringling's care. Many elephants in Ringling's care have contracted a highly contagious strain of tuberculosis that is transmittable to humans. Ringling still forces these elephants to perform. As of March 2015 Ringling stated that they will remove the elephants from their shows in 2018. That still leaves 3 more years of performing. The elephants will still be abused in their sanctuary. If you watch the promotional videos of the Ringling sanctuary you can clearly see bull hooks in the caretakers hands. They also only have 200 acres for 50 elephants. Elephants travel over 50 miles a day in the wild. 200 acres is not nearly enough room for that many animals to live on.

Even if the elephants are removed from the circus Ringling still has dogs, horses, lions, tigers, bears, zebras and other animals that are forced to perform and that suffer the same way the elephants do. All animals deserve to be treated humanely, especially ones that are not raised for human consumption. The animals in the circus and at the Ringling sanctuary lead miserable existences. They are tortured. They suffer greatly for human entertainment, and never have a moment of peace. A family-friendly company should not turn a blind eye to such atrocities.

You also pride yourselves on being a Christian organization. I grew up in church, and as I remember the Bible speaks out against animal abuse as well.

Numbers 22:32 ESV
And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

You are also putting your customers in danger by promoting the circus. Many Ringling employees have been convicted of felonies while working for them. Their employes have been arrested for possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a minor, mugging, sexual battery, assault with a deadly weapon, and bank robbery. Kenneth Feld, the owner of Ringling's parent company Feld Entertainment appeared in federal court after his sister Karen accused the Ringling security guards of beating her and her dog, and groping her.

An organization that prides itself on being family friendly would not in good conscience send their customers to a place where there is an abundance of child molesters, rapists, muggers, and thieves. A "family friendly" company wouldn't send their customers to a place where they could contract tuberculosis or other infectious diseases. You are doing all those things by sponsoring Ringling. Your name is now attached to the abuse of not only animals, but humans as well.

We are asking you to search your consciences and realize that no amount of money is worth having innocent blood on your hands. After all, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." You can choose not to be those kind people. You can choose to do the right thing and end your sponsorship of Ringling immediately.