Atlanta May End All Animal Control Services and Allow Elephant Abuse! Please send sample letter.
PETA
BACKGROUND
Because of the Ringling Bros. circus’ shenanigans, Atlanta may lose its animal control services! No strays picked up, no calls about injured animals answered. How? Last year, Fulton County passed an important animal control law that banned the use of bullhooks—sharp metal tools used by circuses to goad and prod elephants. As Atlanta has incorporated Fulton County’s animal control laws into its own, the ban legally applies in the city. But Ringling is trying to convince Atlanta not to abide by this law. If Atlanta does not agree to allow the ban on bullhooks to be enforced, the city risks losing its animal control services altogether.
The use of bullhooks to abuse elephants in circuses is routine. An undercover investigation of Ringling revealed that elephants are struck repeatedly with them in order to intimidate the elephants and remind them that they must do as they’re told or suffer the painful consequences. A longtime elephant trainer with the Carson & Barnes Circus was caught on video viciously attacking elephants with a bullhook and instructing others to sink bullhooks into elephants’ flesh and twist it until they screamed in pain.
If Atlanta opposes enforcement of the ban on bullhooks, the city’s whole range of animal control services may be suspended—no injured dogs picked up, no responses to dog attacks, no rabies vaccination enforcement, nothing. Please don’t let this happen. The mayor must sign an enforcement agreement with the county without further delay.
Please contact Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and urge him to enforce the bullhook ban in Atlanta and ensure that the city keeps its animal control services. Please be sure to note if you are an Atlanta resident. We encourage you to use your own words, but feel free to use this sample letter (see below).
WHOM TO CONTACT
Please send polite comments to:
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed: kreed@atlantaga.gov
SAMPLE LETTER
Suggested Title:
Please Don’t Leave Atlanta Without Animal Control Services
Suggested Letter:
Dear Mayor Reed:
I strongly urge you to ignore Ringling’s threats and enter into an agreement with Fulton County so that we can keep animal control services in Atlanta. This includes enforcing the bullhook ban. It’s not fair to leave all animals unprotected just so that circuses can use bullhooks to beat and torment elephants when they come to town once a year. Constituents no longer want this blatant form of animal abuse to be tolerated in Atlanta, and they certainly do not want all animal control services to be suspended because city officials are picking and choosing which laws they want to follow.
Can I please have your assurance that you will enter into an agreement with Fulton County to ensure that all cruelty laws are enforced in the city—including the bullhook ban?
Sincerely yours,
animals abusers should have nothing to say
except cry like a baby
when they are locked away.
atlanta turn deaf ears to their pleas.
and think about the animals, first
if you please
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
Our Compass 
Email sent. Animal abusers should not be allowed to influence how animals should be treated. It is sheer lunacy!
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I agree, and thank you!
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animals abusers should have nothing to say
except cry like a baby
when they are locked away.
atlanta turn deaf ears to their pleas.
and think about the animals, first
if you please
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done xxx
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Thank you!
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wtf is next? end child protective services? disgusting
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I agree, thanks, Tara.
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This particular circus is coming to our neck of the woods in June…. My daughter and I plan on picketing and showing video of the abuse that these poor animals endure for our entertainment!!
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Thank you so much for all you do!
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Email sent!
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Thank you so much!
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I would really like a little clarification, please. Exactly what is the connection between Atlanta enforcing the ban and it possibly losing the animal services? There’s no substantive correlative explanation in your article. More information, please. Thank you!
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That is all the background information that PETA offered. You could email and ask them: http://www.peta.org
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Say it isn’t so! People of conscience trying to reason with people who find no objection in the cruelest human behaviors! I would say it is getting old, but that would fall on deaf ears I’m afraid. To say it is escalating would be more to the point, as hard economic times apparently signal displays of worse behavior from those prone to temper outbursts. Don’t know what on earth was tolerated in your homes as you grew up, but violence in mine made me vow to be a kinder, gentler and more loving parent and grandparent. What happened to people giving a damn what kind of role models they are for their kids? At the very least show compassion: look up the definition of those born without it – sociopaths! Atlanta, if you are taking dictation from circus folk (who don’t know any better than to prod animals into submission) who make a buck off animals, you are no better than they are and should be jailed too. I am for much stricter animal laws with the severest of penalties for abusers. Check your facts: a common trait among serial killers is torture and killing innocent animals. Clergy, I call on you to keep your eye on the morality of your flocks – and put animal kindness and compassion to ALL living beings into your sermons for a change. (And please don’t answer me with taken out of context nonsense you misinterpret from the Bible!)
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Very well written, thank you so much for your input, Mara.
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