August 10, 2003

RE: SEVERELY ABUSIVE METHODS TO TRAIN CIRCUS ANIMALS

Dear USDA, U.S. Senators, President, Vice-President, Representatives, and Legislative VIPS:

In reviewing a summary of reports conducted by the USDA on Hawthorn Corp., of Illinois, serious concerns are raised about an endangered elephant named Delhi. According to the USDA report summary posted online "Delhi had an open, draining, and bleeding wound on her nail. The area above the nail was swollen. The cuticles on both of her front feet were very overgrown. Delhi was limping in pain and favored her leg during the performance. Delhi had severe tissue damage to the front feet and several abscessed areas on her body, including areas on both hips, between the eyes, the anterior portion of the ear attachment, on her head, the elbows of both front legs, and the tail. Chemical burns on Delhi's feet were the result of the use of undiluted formaldehyde to soak Delhi's feet. On March 4, 2002, Delhi was found in a "serious health emergency." Both of her front legs were twice their normal size and were swollen up to her chest. She could not bend her front legs at the elbows, was reluctant to bear weight on her front legs, and had difficulty in walking."

According to the USDA’s APHIS website, "Confiscated Animals. In severe cases of animal abuse, confiscation is an option under the AWA. Sometimes, AC cannot take this action because it is difficult to find an appropriate facility capable of or willing to house the animals. The regulations limit the types of situations under which AC can confiscate animals."

Delhi should have been confiscated. She was in "sustained suffering." Please explain why she was not confiscated when the highly reputable Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee offers to take such animals. I must demand that before or when the upcoming hearing on Cuneo and Hawthorn takes place, Delhi be confiscated because she has been in and was, according to USDA reports dated March 2002, in sustained suffering. I personally volunteer to make the arrangements to place her and arrange for fund raising for Delhi to move to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

Currently in the United States there are over 100 reputable animal sanctuaries that will take these animals. I personally volunteer to make phone calls and arrange for placement and funding campaigns of any animal the USDA confiscates from circuses or leasing agents such as Hawthorn.

It is my understanding that habitual violators of the Animal Welfare Act are to have their USDA licenses revoked. It certainly seems that John Cuneo, his Hawthorn trainers and the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus are all habitual violators of the AWA. With charges that equal more than $70,000 in Cuneo's case and over $100,000 in Ringling's case, these licenses should be revoked for habitual violations. Please explain why they are not.

Thank you to the state of Maine for developing stricter standards on elephant welfare! Thank you for everything the USDA has done to date. We the people appreciate it and I will speak for the animals, as I'm sure they appreciate it also.

Regards,