SAVE THIS ELEPHANT

Tell UniverSoul Circus CEO Cedric Walker to Show Compassion to Suffering, Sick and Abused Elephant Nosey

Posted: 25 Feb 2013 12:24 PM PST

Open Letter to UniverSoul Circus CEO Cedric Walker

(The following letter was sent via email to info@universoulcircus.com and hernest@universoulcircus.com. Feel free to copy/paste/modulate it to send your own email. Thank you for taking action.)

SUBJECT: "BREAKING: UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker Shows Compassion for Suffering Elephant Nosey"

February 25, 2013

Cedric Walker
CEO
UniverSoul Circus

Dear Mr. Walker: The subject line of this email could become a reality, but only if you show compassion for the long-suffering, sick and abused elephant Nosey and cancel her upcoming performances. As noted by PETA in their email below, there is "abundant indisputable evidence of Nosey's decades-long neglect at the hands of infamous exhibitor Hugo 'Tommy' Liebel."

For more information on the plight on Nosey: http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2013/02/20/save-suffering-elephant-from-universoul-misery.aspx

I am writing to urge you to immediately cancel Nosey's act and implement a policy prohibiting UniverSoul Circus from working with animal exhibitors who have had formal charges filed against them by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

The Liebel Family Circus (dba Florida State Family Entertainment, Florida State Family Circus, Liebling Bros. Circus, and Liebling Bros. Family Circus), was recently formally charged with almost three dozen violations of the AWA. The charges against Liebel include keeping the elephant named "Nosey" chained so tightly by two legs that she could not lie down and could barely move; repeatedly denying Nosey necessary veterinary care; potentially exposing Nosey to serious infections by allowing manure to accumulate in the overgrown soles of her feet, despite knowing that foot ailments are the leading cause of death in captive elephants; and repeatedly allowing unsupervised public contact with Nosey, who has hit a Liebel employee on the back of the head with her trunk in the past, sending him to the hospital. Other violations include leaving a chained monkey on a pony's back unattended for an hour.

These violations are particularly alarming considering that Liebel was previously fined $3,000 for failing to adhere to the minimum standards of the AWA. Furthermore, these charges involve behavior that would violate Florida cruelty-to-animals laws were it to occur at UniverSoul, including:

FLA. STAT. ANN. § 828.12 (2010). Cruelty to animals:

(1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter...is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in...excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. 

Surely, you do not want to affiliate yourself with cruelty to animals or with such extensive AWA violations or to subject yourself to potential criminal liability for harboring a neglected animal or civil liability for allowing dangerous, unsupervised contact with an elephant. Will you please act in behalf of the animals used by Liebel and ensure public safety now by immediately implementing a policy that prohibits UniverSoul Circus from working with animal exhibitors who have had formal charges filed against them by the USDA for violations of the AWA, including Liebel?

Also, I assume you have read the letter that Russell Simmons sent to you regarding Nosey, but just in case you have not, you can read it here:

http://globalgrind.com/news/we-must-stop-universoul-circus-animal-abuse-russell-simmons-blog

It is in your power to help ensure that animals forced to perform at UniverSoul are not cruelly abused and to disallow any further opportunity to endanger members of the public.

If you do make the ethical choice, I look forward to reading the following headline:

"BREAKING: UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker Shows Compassion for Suffering Elephant Nosey" 

It's all up to you. Thank you for your consideration in this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Reynard Loki

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PETA
Date: Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Subject: Urgent: Suffering Elephant Nosey Still Needs Your Help!

Dear Reynard,

As you are probably aware, UniverSoul Circus has been using the suffering elephant Nosey in its performances in Florida this month, despite abundant indisputable evidence of Nosey's decades-long neglect at the hands of infamous exhibitor Hugo "Tommy" Liebel.

Click here to learn more about Liebel's unrelenting neglect of Nosey's health and well-being. Now more than ever, we need our compassionate members and supporters to join PETA in pressuring UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker and North Florida Fairgrounds Manager Mark Harvey to immediately cancel Nosey's planned appearances in UniverSoul's upcoming Tallahassee shows.

Please call Walker (404-588-1235) and Harvey (850-878-3247) and let them know that they must cancel Nosey's appearances now. Please also forward this urgent information to your family and friends.

Thank you for your compassion.

Sincerely,

Delcianna Winders
Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement
PETA Foundation