Dear :

Please do not host [name of animal act].

Many people believe that traveling [insert type of act (i.e. petting zoo, circus)] provide harmless entertainment, but the cruel and inhumane treatment of the animals makes this form of entertainment unacceptable. The life led by animals in captivity is far different from that seen by patrons. It includes close confinement, physical discipline and abuse, and constant stress.

Lions Club International (LCI), the world's largest service association, recently advised its clubs to beware of using traveling "circuses and other events that may abuse animals used as part of the entertainment." LCI suggested that its clubs decline to sponsor these events as fundraisers.

You may also be interested to know that the Centers for Disease Control recently issued a warning about what they have termed the "significant" risk of E. coli and other bacterial infections at petting zoos. According to the April 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 56 people, 19 of whom were hospitalized, contracted E. coli from just two petting zoos last year in a matter of a few short months. Most of these were children who came into direct contact with animals or simply touched an animal's enclosure. One child was even infected after a sibling visited such an exhibit.

Please, for the sake of the animals and the safety of the public, implement a formal policy against the use of animal acts as promotions, and schedule only cruelty-free events.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

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