Thanks to staff writer Ernie Garcia for this update regarding last month’s animal rights protest of the Royal Hanneford Circus in White Plains.

For the full story, click here.

Ernie’s update:

The animal-rights activists who protested Royal Hanneford Circus’
performances last month in White Plains distributed fliers from the People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals alleging 20 animal welfare violations
or incidents by the circus.
Many of the violations cited were years old, so the day of the protest The
Journal News checked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Web site for any recent violations. The Web site showed no recent actions against, or violations by, the circus.
Just in case, The Journal News submitted a freedom of information request to the federal agency requesting any violations by the circus in 2006 or 2007.
On March 18 the agency responded that it had no violations on file for the
circus in those years.
The only violation the agency sent to the newspaper was dated March 9, 2005. That report indicated that both Asian elephants were in need of foot care.
Both elephants’ nails were overgrown and there was an excessive amount of
tissue over their cuticles. The report also noted a history of foot care
problems for the elephants dating to an Apri. 14, 2004 inspection.
At the time of the 2004 inspection the inspector requested a written
protocol for foot care and arthritis management, and none was available at
the 2005 inspection. Tuberculosis tests were also not available at the time of the 2005 inspection, as is required.