Date: 5/18/2018
The Melha Shrine Circus just returned, and unfortunately, so did the elephants, tigers, horses, and dogs. In 2016 the Melha Shriners chose to live up to their mission to foster “the perpetuation of moral values” by removing animals from the circus. However, they insisted on reintroducing animal acts the past two years after claiming circus profits that year decreased and they received many complaints. However, the 2016 potentate stated in their July/August 2016 newsletter: “There has been so much positive publicity about our circus. Some people missed having animals, but the overall feedback was that more than half of the replies felt that not only did the show go on but that it paved the way for future circuses.”
I and many others praised the Melha Shriners for removing animal torture from their circus and following in the footsteps of many other circuses nowadays. And although records do show that Melha Shrine Circus profits decreased that year, it is important to note that their profits had been decreasing for many years prior to 2016, reflecting the fact that circuses with animals have been steadily declining in popularity for quite some time.
In fact, the most popular circus in the world is now Cirque Du Soleil and Circus Smirkus in Northampton is always a sellout. Nowadays there are countless exciting animal-free circus acts to choose from. It is time for the Shriners to either invest in a more modern humane circus or find an alternative humane fundraising event, as their archaic circus is no longer working.
Wild animals used in traveling shows are painfully forced to do tricks with electric prods, whips, bullhooks, iron rods, and food deprivation. The animals are also subjected to extended periods of intensive confinement as they are moved from state-to-state. The Melha Shriners claim they “take steps to make sure the circus animals are well treated.” They apparently are poorly informed. The Melha Shrine Circus uses animals from Hamid Circus Co. and Vincent Von Duke, both of which rent wild animals from circus companies that have long lists of horrendous Animal Welfare Act violations, including incidents in which people were injured by the animals. These types of incidents are the reason that 125 jurisdictions across 34 states have ordinances banning the use of animals in entertainment or the use of injurious weapons on animals, including the cities of Pittsfield, Braintree, Cambridge, Quincy, and Somerville.
I support all the wonderful work the Melha Shriners do, but until it is cruelty-free again I (and many others) refuse to attend.
Sheryl Becker
Agawam
