Teach kids that circus animals are not volunteers

Teach

kids that circus animals are not volunteers

Kiwanis sponsored

Hendricks Family Circus

When you think about taking

your child to the Kiwanis sponsored Hendricks Family

Circus April 15 and 16, please keep this in mind. Animals

in entertainment are not volunteers, and they do not want

to be there.

Circuses that have animals

in entertainment do not send a very clear message. The

Hendricks Family Circus advertises "Elephant Acts,

Performing Camels, Dancing Lions from China, and Racing

Pigs." What could be great about any of those acts?

These animals live their lives in cages and are often

abused and mistreated. Kids are tricked into believing

that the animals are well taken care of and are happy.

Supporting an industry like this sends a message that we

as consumers don't care about what goes on "behind

the scenes."

Supporting this industry

teaches our children that compassion does not come first.

Children are our responsiblility, and it is up to us to

teach compassion and provide entertainment for them that

is creative and positive.

The Bible gives us dominion

over animals. Surely this means that we should protect

them, not exploit them or use them for profit! Please do

not support this industry. It says on the ticket,

"This circus fights drug abuse." If you want to

donate to drug abuse, do it directly, not in the name of

animal abuse.

Claire McLean

Peachtree City

[McClean is a teacher in

the Fayette County school system.]