Stop Circus Suffering

ADI brings ‘Break the Chain’ campaign to Nashville, Tenessee

ADI urges Nashville residents to boycott the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Animal Defenders International (ADI), a leading animal protection group, is urging Nashville residents to boycott the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus this weekend from Jan. 21 – 23.

Though the circus, which performs using live and exotic animals, will be held at Bridgestone Arena (formerly Sommet Center), protesters are expected to turn out in support of ADI’s ‘Break The Chain’ campaign against circus animal suffering.

“Through Break The Chain, we are reaching out to local communities and governments to educate everyone about circus cruelty,” said Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International.

As the leader of the Break The Chain campaign, ADI works with animal rights and welfare organizations across the U.S. to bring awareness on a local grassroots level to the communities in which animal circuses perform. Providing campaign assistance, program guidance and educational materials to local campaigners, ADI also reaches out to local governments to communicate its scientific findings to end circus suffering.

“For more than 18 years, ADI has effectively produced overwhelming and undeniable evidence of suffering of animals in circuses as a result of extreme confinement, the constant traveling nature of these shows, and cruel training practices.”

ADI’s two-year undercover investigation on circus cruelty shocked the world, resulting in major changes in the U.S., South America and European countries.

Courts in many countries have used ADI’s evidence to prosecute offenders while governments have been compelled to change laws in favor of partial or complete bans, such as the recent passing of Bolivian law 4040, which prohibits any and all use of animals in Bolivian circuses.

TV presenter, renowned humanitarian and animal rights protector Bob Barker, who has supported ADI with funds to construct quarantine facilities, has helped to provide permanent homes for former circus animals freed as a result of the Bolivian law.

Barker said, “Animals do not belong in circuses where they are forced to live in cramped quarters and suffer physical abuse and neglect at the hands of underqualified trainers and circus operators. Nothing could be more inhumane and callous than forcing animals to endure a life of suffering simply for human amusement and profit.”

Though ADI opposes circuses that utilize animal performers, it remains fully supportive of arts and entertainment and circuses that use only human performers.

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