Domestic animal abuse is a wildly popular topic. But have you ever considered the cruelty behind the acts in circuses? Many circus animals are treated cruelly, in terms of training and living conditions.

   Many of these training methods include using weapons such as whips, bull hooks, and even electrical shocking devices. These cruel methods are used to make them perform tricks that are unsafe and unnatural. For example, why would a tiger, who is terrified of fire, jump through a ring of it? Why would an elephant stand on its head or balance on a giant ball? The training methods and the acts are dangerous and harmful to the animals. 

   Violence and unnatural tricks are not the only injustices these animals are recieving. Elephants, in particular, stay with a herd for life, but many in the circus are separated from their mothers far too early. 

   Many circus animals also recieve severe neglect. They spend about 90% of their time in chains or in cages. Some of them are not given sufficient amounts of food and water, or are not given food with enough nutritional value. In other cases, their enclosures are extremely unsanitary, causing sickness. 

   Circuses are required to have their animals examined by a veterinarian before they can perform, however, in many instances, this does not occur. 

   Please help change these horrible injustices and improve the lives of these animals. If a circus is not going to give the proper care and attention to their animals, they should not be allowed to collect profit for it.