I need your help. *video.*
No fun preface today because I’m having a crisis and I need your help.
(If you’re only here for the party, go read this post where I tried to get Paul to help me sew Christmas bows.)
This is why I need your help:
UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS IS THE WORST.
I’ve written about circus animals before, but how can I make a real difference? How can I be more effective? (hint: this is where you come in.)
I made a short video to jazz up my soapbox, and I uploaded it directly to Facebook… my hope is to reach an audience much larger than my own; and this is the simplest way I could think of to share information.
In the interest of time/narrative/internet-attention-span, I’m limiting my content to tigers… tigers used for “entertainment” are my own personal hill-upon-which-I-will-die-(and-keep-forcing-you-to-read-about.) ESPECIALLY the tigers used at UniverSoul circus.
Their “owner” Mitchel Kalmanson, is REPEATEDLY CITED for treatment of the cats that is horrific and makes me want to light myself on fire.
Here is a SIXTY-FOUR PAGE pdf of all Mitchel’s USDA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) citations, fines, and violations of the Animal Welfare Act, that I could find. Let’s assume if I spent another 40 hours looking, I could find twice as many.
Not that it matters, because he just pays the fines and gets to keep doing the same thing.
So. CLEARLY Mitchel Kalmanson is a man who needs me to be WAY more involved in his life; and as soon as I get done this circus business, I am going to get right on that.
In the meantime, here is short list of his greatest hits:
– cited for failing to provide the animals with water, food, ventilation, space, and exercise… (otherwise known as the ability to sustain life.)
– cited for feeding cats rotten meat,
– cited for holding cats in trailers filled with excreta and infested with maggots,
– cited for denying animals veterinary care, (including a lion cub who died of metabolic bone disease caused by an inadequate diet of aforementioned rotten meat.)
– cited for keeping tigers and a cougar confined to unsuitable cages inside transport trucks during 90-plus-degree-heat without access to water in a mall parking lot… It took the USDA TWO DAYS TO INVESTIGATE THIS REPORT… two days the animals baked in a mall parking lot inside a tractor trailer.
– cited for refusing to allow USDA inspectors to investigate the animal’s welfare.
**douses Self in kerosene and lights match**
UniverSoul denies any responsibility for the animal acts they hire; offering this disclaimer: “Any and all animal acts that perform with the UniverSoul Circus must be in compliance with federal, state and local rules, ordinances, and regulations.”
This is utterly meaningless seeing as how Animal Welfare Act violations are enforced by FINES. When the fine is paid, the animal contractor is in compliance.
Besides, seeing as how it’s LEGAL to keep wild animals in a tiny cage for their entire life, bereft of any kind of normal existence, (as long as you give them water,) the idea of being in “compliance” with the law is hinged upon the acceptance of treating magnificent living beings as objects whose suffering is irrelevant.
**Self’s rage fire burns with the heat of 10,000 suns**
**Please don’t make Self live with her rage fire all alone.**
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Be a voice for animals.
Share information LOUDLY.
Tell EVERYONE.
Our beliefs are not what define us as people, our actions are.
Just sharing once on Facebook isn’t enough… we REALLY NEED TO BE PERSISTENT… If Paul Revere had just Tweeted that the British were coming, and then was like, DUDE I’m so busy! I don’t have time for the revolution… we’d all be having an afternoon snack called tea.
Take the time to truly explain to your friends and family WHY you don’t support circuses that use animals… plenty of people really don’t realize at all what these animals endure, and a change in perspective can make all the difference.
2. Go to UniverSoul social media pages.
Leave a comment asking them to end their support of animal abuse!
facebook.com/universoulcircus
twitter.com/universoulcirc
instagram.com/universoulcircus/
You can retweet mine:
. @UniverSoulCirc Keeps tigers caged 24/7!! deprived of any semblance of a natural life. used as props in magic act. https://t.co/DkCJtLLacS pic.twitter.com/G7XTCYRfSy
— Victoria E Barnes (@victoriaEbarnes) November 22, 2016
Here are some comments you can copy/paste/edit.
- The animals in your circus are deprived of any semblance of a natural life… forcing tigers to endure enormous suffering so that they can be a prop in your magic act is MADNESS! This is the year 2016! HOW ARE HUMANS NOT BETTER THAN THIS YET?
- Keeping living beings in chains and cages is NOT entertainment. Wild animals belong in the wild! It’s time for change!
- Hello fellow animal lovers! I was horrified to learn that UniverSoul Circus is the WORST for animals!!! (google: UniverSoul animal abuse!!) EVERY SINGLE ONE of their animal acts has a long history of Animal Welfare Act violations!
- They are abusing elephants (google it!) and the big cat act is horrifying! The tigers are caged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!! THEY NEVER LET THEM OUT!
3. Write and call UniverSoul directly.
Tell them that the circus is no place for wild animals.
Telephone: 404-588-1235
hernest@universoulcircus.com
wthomas@universoulcircus.com
tjones@universoulcircus.com
Info@UniverSoulCircus.com
Here is an email you can just copy paste:
Subject: the circus is no place for wild animals!
Dear UniverSoul,
According to the USDA, the animal acts you contract with have lengthy histories of repeatedly violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)… But even if that wasn’t the case, wild animals don’t belong in the circus!
Circus animals are deprived of any semblance of a natural life– please end your support of this abuse!
Wild animals are not entertainment.
It’s time for change!
Sincerely,
Victoria Barnes
832 Park Ave
Fancyville, GFT 01010
555-1212
(I always include my personal info… I think it says, I’m HERE. And I’m REAL.)
Bears do not want to ride bikes, tigers do not want to jump through fire, elephants do not want to stand on their head… Animals forced to perform in circuses are “trained” in extremely violent and inhumane ways: electric prods, bullhooks, whips, muzzles, chains, restraints.
So many places in the world have banned animals in circuses, but the United States continues to allow it! Yes, there are American cities who are implementing more progressive policies, but at a pace so slow as to be useless to the animals.
Wild animals DO NOT BELONG IN PRISON FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT.
This is not a life for any living being.
Alright. I suppose you get what I’m saying and I can wrap up the all-caps brigade.
In closing, if you are in Philadelphia… UniverSoul is here through Sunday night, November 27th… They’ve been here since November 3rd– putting all of us who protest them through an endless shuffling of schedules and driving and hauling signs for a total of 38 shows at which we raised awareness that UniverSoul Circus is profiting from animal abuse.
We are tired, but we are still showing up for the animals!!! We’d love to have you join us! We have signs and flyers, all you need is yourself!
If you are still reading this, YOU ARE MY PEOPLE.
I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU… From the bottom of my heart.
p.s.- I got a new foster baby.
November 22, 2016 @ 4:55 pm
I have no words…. seeing that beautiful tiger caged like that should be enough! How can we condone this in 21st century America? I too have send emails and would participate if I lived in your state. If they ever try to come to NC, I can guarantee them a welcome party they won’t want to attend!!
November 22, 2016 @ 5:16 pm
I just posted your video on their Facebook page. We’ll see how long it stays up 🙂
November 22, 2016 @ 5:56 pm
You are doing amazing work. I’ve learned so much. I will share your message. Aren’t Tigers endangered? How do they get these animals? I don’t understand how something is endangered but still someone can own one. Also, my dad always told us growing up that anyone who would abuse an animal is capable of the same thing with another human being. I believe that to be true.
November 22, 2016 @ 6:27 pm
You are my hero! Circuses, zoos, aquariums, swimming with dolphins, riding an elephant, animal acts of any kind, are just wrong! And then there’s puppy mills! Don’t get me started. I never tire of your soapbox commentaries – keep them coming. I’m here in Ontario, Canada so I can’t protest with you, but I’m there in spirit.
November 22, 2016 @ 7:23 pm
sent.
November 22, 2016 @ 8:57 pm
Thank you for opening my eyes to this abuse. I am a vegan yogi and abhor this cruel behavior. Keep up the good work! I have sent all of the emails and will continue to haunt them on social media. Thank you!
November 22, 2016 @ 9:27 pm
Thank you for caring and acting. I’ve tweeted and emailed too. It’s awful. AWFUL!
November 22, 2016 @ 9:55 pm
Dear Victoria Elizabeth Barnes…..I LoVE CAPS…..I really REALLY do!!!!! I love TIGERS and ELEPHANTS and BEARS…..oh my,
I own 6 dogs..5 are rescues….they do nothing. BUT, they are all very pretty!! On occasion people have asked why…Why don’t they do anything….My only response has ALWAYS been: because they are NOT circus animals…..BRAVO!!!!!! Bravo to you…I will do my part. Thank You…
Sharon Elizabeth Trujillo…..I have waited to see the new kitty….I knew you wouldn’t disappoint. ♡
November 22, 2016 @ 10:04 pm
Will do. And why don’t we call the Black Fish people about a documentary? That’s what finally made Sea World change.
November 23, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
Good On You VEB!!! And thank you for posting all of this information. I LOVE animals all of them I DETEST this circus and how it abuses them.
I will share on Facebook and comment on their page. What else can be done?
I’ll look for their itinerary (if they have one) and see where they are going next.
YES to what Amber said Lets CALL the Black Fish people …
November 23, 2016 @ 11:25 pm
I hope you can forgive me, I am not strong enough to watch videos of any animal being mistreated. I am not a delicate little snowflake, but I find the images disturbing and then the nightmares begin…That said, I agree that it would be great if the good people that produced Black Fish could be contacted in hopes that an expose would help bring an end to the practice of ‘circus animals’. There is no place in ‘civilized society’ for a circus with animals.
Thank you for all your work on behalf of the animals, and congratulations on your new family member!
November 23, 2016 @ 11:44 pm
First off – yes, totally agree. I’m a vegetarian with three humane society survivors (2 cats, 1 dog) as housemates.
Second – i’m struggling here. Animals rights are without a doubt important. In fact, they are incredibly important! And completely worth your voice. However, where is your voice on your blog re: immigrant rights, people of color, women, native americans, LGBTQ? I’m not asking to be rude…I just think we can’t stop at our vegetarian/vegan/animal rights voice. I’m totally with you on everything you said in this post. My challenge is to ask you to take it a step further. This election has shown that we need to show up for all who need us. And people in our communities are in immediate and desperate need of voices in light of proposed policy changes.
I’m writing because I think you are someone who i can have a respectful and honest dialogue with. I respect you and am not trying to be rude. There is just so much work to be done and I’m trying to find my sisters to get to work with.
My heart is with you and I love your blog. Thank you for all that you do.
November 29, 2016 @ 10:07 pm
I think it’s really hard and emotionally exhausting to take on every societal ill at once. This has been Victoria’s passion for a long long time, and there is no reason to tell her that she should be doing more. She is showing many pictures of herself physically walking the walk for this issue that she is passionate about. While you are right in that it is important to fight for the other causes you mention, it is not okay to come here to a post where someone is actually doing something in the real world and passively guilt them for not doing something for every important cause. Your comment is what created the “social justice warrior” epithet–in fact it’s almost a verbatim copy of the definition on Urban Dictionary.
I’m sure she (and her followers) would love to support you in similar ways in your fight for and on behalf of the other marginalized groups you mentioned. Do you have a link to your blog/Facebook/etc. post that we can read and share and use as a base for contacting those who can help change things?
November 24, 2016 @ 1:09 am
Thank you for this. Emails sent 😉
November 24, 2016 @ 8:44 am
you would think they’d do more than fine them…. or don’t they remember the animals that were kept in poor conditions in a “private”zoo. they got loose, killed the owner/abuser and then were slaughtered? I still remember that happening in October, 3 or 4 years ago. fines are not enough, the animals should be removed and taken to shelters….i agree with you, animals don’t belong in a circus.
November 26, 2016 @ 6:23 pm
Just retweeted your message. This business was in our neighborhood several years ago so it breaks my heart that I didn’t know then. We foster injured dogs so this is just one more issue that needs attention.
November 29, 2016 @ 4:23 pm
I took my kids to see Vargas Circus in Los Angeles, CA. There were no animals used otherwise, I would not have taken my kids.
At the age of 5 in Chicago in kindergarten, I still remember our class field trip to the zoo. An elephant was in a small white room chained and the room was dirty and smelled. I never forgot this image but no one seemed to care. The teachers did not say a word, nor did any other kids about the cruelty or the suffering and the perverse need man has to feel superior to animals. Such beaming victories. Yes we are humans and have higher IQs. SO WHAT? We get to destroy the souls of animals because we can use weapons to do so?
January 11, 2017 @ 10:19 am
Thank YOU for sharing this, and caring enough to fight for these animals! You are my antiques super hero! You, with your finely tuned radar for finding glorious GFTs, your envious persuasive trance-like influence over your devoted and tolerant sidekick husband, have now soared to new heights by standing up to the evil tiger man and the UniverSoulLess Circus. I will share your post and spread the word. I posted this on their Facebook page:
“Reports of your continuation of documented and fined animal abuse and neglect is disgusting and reprehensible. Remove the animal acts!”
They will probably delete it before the end of the day, but, it’s a start. Bravo for your fostering work. Giving them up is certainly difficult. My family has raised 3 puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, one of the most respected guide dog programs in the world. They are leaders in the move to teach with only positive reinforcement training practices. NO force, choke chains, prong collars or leash corrections! We spend nearly every moment with the pup from 10 wks until about 15 mos and it is heart-wrenching to take them back to NY to finish their training. BUT, the loss and sadness we feel pales in comparison to the JOY and independence they bring to their VIP, visually impaired person. Your fostering efforts are just as valuable to the hearts of the adoptive families. I’d be honored if you look me up on my Facebook page… Alexander Inn-tiques.
January 15, 2017 @ 8:22 am
I just heard Ringling brothers is closing down after 146 years 👍