As compassionate and caring citizens, we the undersigned are utterly shocked to hear that Milton- a progressive and family friendly community- is considering hosting the Shrine Circus, which is using two aging performing Asian elephants by the names of Marie and Schell, at it's Fairgrounds.
Marie, 41 years old, is a female elephant who was stolen from her family in the wild at the age of 2. She has been performing for the Tarzan Zerbini Circus for 35 years. Schell, 50 years old,  was also taken from the wild at the age of 2. She has been performing for the Tarzan Zerbini Circus for 26 years.
Both of these elephants are trained and handled with a bullhook- a cruel training device similar to a fireplace poker. It is considered a weapon in many countries and cities and was most recently banned in the city of Los Angeles for being "inhumane and unhealthy", and causing "extensive physical and psychological damage to elephants".
Elephants are considered the 4th most intelligent animal in the world behind humans, dolphins and chimpanzees. Because of this, one can only imagine the immense torment Marie and Schell must feel being under constant confinement and fear of humans. Circus elephants spend up to 48 weeks a year on the road. It is simply impossible to train such a large and complex animal to do unnatural tricks without instilling fear in it. The claim by many circuses that their elephant training methods are based on positive reinforcement are untrue and have never once been proven. Tarzan Zerbini Circus, the owners of Marie and Schell, have had six elephant attacks on record, one as recently as August 2013, in which a woman suffered life-threatening injuries after being grabbed by an elephant named Rajah. The Shriners themselves also have a dangerous reputation; for two summers in a row, they have been documented on video assaulting peaceful protestors, which have resulted in charges.
Please, as a caring community which is part of such a developed and wonderful country, make the decision to tell the Shriners that you will only support an animal-free show. It is time for them to follow the example of multiple other progressive circuses- such as the incredibly popular and reputable Cirque Du Soleil, who have made the choice not to use exotic animals in their shows because of the inhumane manner in which they have to be trained and the risk of having members of the public in such close proximity to stressed out, unpredictable creatures.