PETA Wants Dubuque to Ban Elephant Pain Devices

By Josh Hinkle, Reporter

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By Josh Hinkle

Story Created: Jun 24, 2006 at 9:12 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 27, 2006 at 2:44 PM CST

DUBUQUE - Inside Carson & Barnes Circus in Dubuque, spectators see things out of the ordinary for Iowa. But elephants seem to be the big hit at the big top.

Animal activist group PETA has an opinion on its website that consists of a video the group says depicts a Carson & Barnes trainer abusing elephants with bull hooks.

The circus says the video is not accurate, that the footage is from the mid-1990s and the audio is actually from a trainer speaking to other trainers, not elephants.

But PETA doubts the circus' claims about these elephants. Members sent this letter to the Dubuque mayor, urging his help. The letter asks Mayor Roy Buol to ban bull hooks, electric prods and other devices that inflict pain to elephants.

Buol did not return TV9's calls, and spectators did not buy into PETA's plan.

The circus invites any doubting spectators to check out its USDA standing, and if that is not enough, to witness its elephant training at any time.

Email Josh Hinkle at Josh.Hinkle@kcrg.com

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