19/09/2021
Please contact your reps to show support for this!
Two years ago, Beulah the elephant was transported out of CT and brought to MA to be used for entertainment at the Big E in West Springfield. This would be her last event; she would collapse and die half way through the fair. Records would later reveal that at the time of her death she suffered from a painful infection of the uterus. . Beulah spent over 50 years performing in traveling acts, and even though her owners had been cited by the USDA over 50 times for failing to adhere to the Animal Welfare Act, they were still legally able to bring her to MA.
Help us stop exotic animal acts from coming to the Commonwealth. Right now, legislation to prohibit the use of elephants, big cats, primates, bears, and giraffes in traveling shows in Massachusetts is in front of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture. Ask your MA state legislators to support S. 2251/H. 3376: An Act relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows, sponsored by State Senator Bruce Tarr, Senator Adam Gomez, State Representative Lori Ehrlich, and State Representative Brad Jones.
Yesterday, this year’s Big E kicked off—this time, thankfully, with no exotic animals. But, there is no guarantee that there will not be an elephant next year, or the year after that. We need to make sure that no exotic animal is ever brought into our state for cruel exhibition in a traveling show again.
Beulah was just one of the thousands of exotic animals moving across the country to be exhibited at shows. These animals, used in performances and for rides at traveling shows, are subjected to abusive training and a life on the road, deprived of exercise and the ability to express even the most basic, natural behaviors. Learn more about Beulah and this legislation: https://www.mspca.org/animal_protection/circus-bill/