L.A. City Animal Services shuts down elephant circus show

A circus elephant act in Panorama City was shut down Thursday by Los Angeles city animal services, the LA Daily News reports.

The elephant act, contracted to appear with Circus Vazquez, was found to be violation of the City of Los Angeles' permit requirements.

The elephants, Tina, Jewel and Queenie, have a long history of abuse and neglect, all documented in official U.S. Department of Agriculture records, said Ed Boks, general manager of Animal Services.

Boks told the Daily News that when he contacted the USDA, he found out that the elephants’ owner, Will Davenport, acting under different names and business aliases in Arizona and Texas, had a history of numerous Animal Welfare Act violations.

"We commend L.A. Animal Services for taking action to prevent these abused elephants from being exploited in our city,” said Catherine Doyle, a campaign director for In Defense of Animals, which helped draft the city permit guidelines. “If only federal authorities would act as swiftly and decisively as the city has.”

Doyle told the L.A. Times she's calling for federal authorities to seize the elephants and return them to an animal sanctuary.

-Francisco Vara-Orta

Comments

[Jessie Calderone]

The credit goes to the Animal Services Commission, not to Ed Boks, who is always seeking the spotlight instead of lower his kill rates.

It's no wonder that City Coucil voted this week to audit Mr. Boks' mismanagement of Prop F funds.

[BeKindToAnimals]

I don't care WHO gets credit, as long as these elephants are getting the help they need. It's appalling to think that in 2008--in the United States, no less--people can abuse and exploit animals and so little is done about it.

Elephants belong in the wild, not in circuses, zoos, sideshows, travelling shows...just in the wild. At least let these two poor creatures live out the rest of their lives in something resembling their natural habitat, i.e., an elephant sanctuary, with plenty of room for roaming--which is critical for elephants--and socializing--which is also critical for elephants.

And how about DOING SOMETHING to the "people" (and I'm using that term loosely) responsible for the "long history of abuse and neglect"? Like, put them in jail. For a long time.

[Steffi]

I would like to know why these elephants were removed from a sanctuary in the first place. They were in the sanctuary because of previous abuse. Who allowed them to be removed?

[San Ying]

All life is a force that can take any form. Any creature alive has feelings and suffer or rejoice like all other creatures. Humans have no right to cause any creature suffering through cruelty or for amusement. Those who do may find themselves in thier rebirth in the position of those they have caused to suffer.

[Marlene Goodman]

Thank you so much for exposing another act of elephant cruelty. Its been a long time coming but its refreshing to hear that the Department of Animal Services has finally changed their permitting laws. Now that they are changed the Department must be scrupulous in following the law.

Marlene Goodman

[Riche]

I have seen more dogs and cats and personal pets being treated so bad,every sad. And the animals in circus are doing great much better then all these girls that drag these little dogs around town just so they can think they are cool to be seen with them.

[Fay Morris]

Congratulations to The Los Angeles Animal Service, these three elephants do not have much time left. This situation would have been perfect if the USDA had said to the Animal Service "Confiscate the three elephants and have The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee come and get them into care." I hope many citizens write to the Western Office of the USDA and plead for sanctuary for these three gentle souls.

[Susan]

If anyone is interested in helping the elephants Tina and Jewel, please visit the In Defense of Animals' website.

http://www.idausa.org/

[Barbara Shepler]

Kudos to LA City Animal Services for rejecting the mistreatment of elephants by the Davenport family. We all need to do our part by not allowing animal abuse in our community, wherever we are. Next, we need to go to http://www.idausa.org/ to learn more about the sad story of these elephants. Please write letters, blog and tell everyone about this abuse. Tell the USDA to confiscate these beauties and send them to sanctuary. They've given enough of their lives for our entertainment, now they deserve our help.