Tell European Commission to Stand By New Circus Laws
Recently, the Portuguese government enacted a law that bans using exotic animals in circuses, with the exception of animals currently registered to each circus. This important legislation prevents circuses from breeding exotic animals or capturing them from their natural environment in order to force them to perform cruel and confusing stunts.
Portuguese circuses are nervously appealing the decision to the European Commission and asking it to overrule the legislation that would protect future generations of animals from enduring consistent abuse at the hands of circus employees. Circuses beat animals, including babies, with bullhooks, whips and other cruel devices and deprive these sensitive and intelligent beings of every natural instinct. Their living conditions are often deplorable, and they are constantly kept in chains and tiny cages where they can barely move – all so that spectators can watch them perform tricks that in no way represent their natural behaviour.
Please take a moment and use the form below to express your support for this law to the Portuguese government and European Commission and urge them to take further action by banning animals in circuses all together.
