Youngstown, Ohio –After learning that Youngstown-based Schwebels Baking Co. is promoting Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus PETA reached out to Schwebels executives asking them to end the partnership, but they have refused to act, even after PETA provided the president with a graphic video of PETAs investigation showing Ringling employees abusing animals.Now, PETA has posted an action alert on its popular Web site asking its members and supporters to urge the bakery to end its current Ringling promotion and thousands of concerned people have already done so.
“Schwebels shouldnt break bread with Ringling Bros. or its own reputation will take a beating like the one those elephants gets,” says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. “Compassionate consumers wont like what they see on the videos and will take their business elsewhere.”
In video footage recorded during a recent PETA undercover investigation, Ringling employees can be seen digging steel-tipped bullhooks into sensitive areas of elephants bodies and striking and whipping elephants and tigers. Other scenes caught on tape include:
- Employees–including an animal superintendent and a head elephant trainer–using bullhooks and other objects to strike elephants on the head, ears, and trunk
- Employees whipping elephants and a tiger, including on or near the face
- Employees yanking elephants by using the sharp steel barbs on bullhooks
- One elephant, Tonka, being forced to perform night after night in spite of repeatedly exhibiting signs of severe psychological distress
Source: PETA