One of the elephants finally got a little revenge! I can't imagine how these people sleep at night, how they justify their behavior, all in the name of "family fun."
This guy got what he's asked for.

Posted by: Susannah S | January 15, 2008 05:39 PM

Frisco Jr. I'm sorry got what he deserved!! And my only concern is with the elephants, and the one that gave it to him!! Somehow get this animal out of there! These people knew what will happen if they continued to tramatize these animals! You fight with fire, you're going to get burned!! Carson & Barnes Circus MUST BE STOPPED!!

Posted by: Carla | January 15, 2008 05:54 PM

Do I feel bad for the guy? NO! The only thing I feel bad about is that I'm sure that elephant was punished with a beating.

Posted by: Marcy | January 15, 2008 05:55 PM

All Circuses that have wild or domestic animals in it!! Ringing, Carson, Shiners whoever, it's all BS!!! Have to stop!!!

Posted by: Carla | January 15, 2008 05:59 PM

I'm starting to wonder how much evidence of abuse the USDA needs to take these poor animals away.
I think it serves this trainer good, only I'm thinking about this poor elephant and wonder what punnishment he's recieving for the attack...

Posted by: Inge | January 15, 2008 07:43 PM

stupid, stupid, stupid. How could someone so heartless do something like this. (But I didnt watch the video). I didnt want to get all sad. Its bad! STOP ABUSING ANIMALS!!! That guy got what he deserved!

Posted by: polly | January 15, 2008 08:05 PM

SEND THAT BASTARD TO PRISION! he deserved it!! torturing helpless animals. gosh how sick can this world get!!

Posted by: Amber Falobas | January 15, 2008 08:31 PM

whoah!

But, im sure people are going to go like "Good, he deserved it", or maybe "Why couldnt he have died?"

Posted by: Caboose | January 15, 2008 09:20 PM

I'm sorry for being so outspoken about this, but THIS WOULD BE PERFECT TIMING if PETA wanted a new campaign.

Seriously, my best friend, who's in grad school with me, we were just talking about the tiger who killed the kid at the zoo. After that a polar bear (Germany...?) had some kind of trouble with its cub.

Now...this incident? I think this is a prime time for some animal rights group to say, OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH! Large wild animals do not belong in captivity at all!

PETA has done such a wonderful job targeting specific animals in pet stores, one at a time, with precision and patience. And it's worked! It's great!

I really would be so happy if someone did the same thing, maybe we can't end all zoo abuses right this minute, but I can't imagine a better time to start a campaign that asks the public, do we really want more people to be attacked in this way?

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | January 15, 2008 09:49 PM

What an ASSHOLE.!!! I would like to have a "talk" with him.

Posted by: Alan Serlin | January 15, 2008 11:15 PM

This man should be in jail!, and not be permitted around animals or children. He is worse than a dockside bully. He gets a rush from over powering these beautiful creatures. He needs serious psychological intervention along with the others who are abusing. Who ever put him in this position and allowed him to teach this abuse to others should be in prison too.

These Elephants should be sent to a place where their lives can go on peacefully with out the fear of being abused by anyone.

The abusers should go to prison along with the people who hired them and allowed this awful abuse to happen!

Posted by: Holly | January 16, 2008 09:22 AM

The Elephant is not to blame for the reaction he had towards humans, how much could anyone endure with out a response.
This elephant suffered great fear and pain in life and in death.
Something must be done so these animals can live out their lives in peace with kindness, not to be driven to madness by poor living conditions and abuse by humans.
My God this is just awful.

Posted by: Holly | January 16, 2008 09:42 AM

To me the circus is one of the dirtiest organizations around.

As a kid, and even as an adult, I just to think exactly what they advertise... to be the greatest show on earth. Little did I know.

Every time the circus is mentioned I feel fooled and like I've been taken advantage of. Years ago I wasn't aware of the circus and their disgusting abuse of animals.

No one wishes anything ill upon another person, but when you continously yell and beat on an animal, all in the name of a cheap trick, you are bound to get attacked back.

Posted by: Jaclyn | January 16, 2008 12:46 PM

I have a strong emotional opinion in regards to the treatment of animals. Who are we to take animals from their homes and put them in violent training for a stupid circus act. I have never supported circus acts or even zoos, and only approve of sanctuaries that take care of injured wild animals. This man should be tried and convicted of animal abuse and should never be able to train elephants again. Is their anyway to stop these kind of people??

Posted by: Breanne Morton | January 16, 2008 03:05 PM

i hope that all of these animals start to fight back and maybe the news would publicize the reason they are trying to defend them selves. i dont care how many humans are attacked by them or killed because they deserve 100% of it. this circus is suppose to be a fun environment for kids but behind the scenes its a horror film for the animals. i am a 14 year old boy, and i pledge to NEVER see a circus/bull fight/dog fight/or anything else that contains animals being hurt.

Posted by: matthew | January 16, 2008 03:38 PM

Oh my god, those poor poor elephants. Watching the elephant that was being shot at at the end brought tears to my eyes. Bastards.

We need to get these scumbuckets out of business.

Posted by: K | January 16, 2008 07:32 PM

I will agree that this is a sas story. Elephants are a majestic animal that actually rival humans in memory and in some forms of intelligence. I would love to see men that abuse elephants be punished with heavy fines, some jail time but never death. Though what these men did was disgusting and cruel, they DO NOT deserve to die for it. Furthermore, I don't necessarily want to see the end of circuses. They are a great place for a family to enjoy some time together. I can remember my first cirus when I was young and it was great. Having said that, there are better ways to train elephants like positive reinforcement and building trust with the animals. The cruel ways must stop and maybe the circuses shouldn't travel are so the animals can have a better life.

Posted by: Kurt K | January 17, 2008 08:24 AM

maya
this is not the first time something like this has happened. we have campaigned against circuses for ages because of reasons like this and the suffering animals. my first protest a long time ago was a rbbb&b circus with peta signs and every year after. we write protest emails and letters to the newspapers and boycott businesses too.

Posted by: Anonymous | January 17, 2008 08:25 AM

matthew

Wish there were more people , young and old and in between, that thought like you. Wonderful comments!!

Also, Maya, do we humans want to continue abusing animals??? The abuse humans inflict upon them is an indictment against humans. Using violence and fear to train creatures to perform stupid tricks alien to their nature in order to provide "family' entertainment is absurd and cruel. Humans, in doing so, look amoral and cruel. Incarcerating the other animals so that we can gawk at them under any conditions is totally inhumane and unnecessary. The only lesson being taught is that violence and cruelty is acceptable towards the other animals and that humans are nothing but brutish savage beasts with very little talent and intelligence. After all, any brute can be a bully. Everyone should watch the original "Planet of the Apes". HHHMMM, not palatable for the humans to endure but yet it is alright for the billions of oppressed animals under humans' power. So much for human ethics and religion. Hypocrysy!

Posted by: Ana | January 17, 2008 09:01 AM

So here we are, another year another animal attack, too bad the POS lived. Don't count on the USDA to do anything, they're another useless extension of the government that does 'just enough' to give the appearance they're doing something. USDA investigations move at a glacial pace, and in the end, are far too little too late. The best thing to do at this point is NOT to attend circuses and use extreme legal pressure.

And the circus animal 'handlers'? Pfft... I hold a steaming pile of dog shit in higher esteem than these people. These people abuse the MOST DEFENCELESS beings on the planet, these people are the stuff of spousal abusers and child molesters. It's very difficult for me to watch these videos, it makes me ashamed that I'm a human; and that our so called 'legal' system will do little if anything for these beings.

What's it going to take to get REAL action against animal handlers in circuses, or just animal circuses in general? Nicolas Burg style be-headings? Suicide bombings? Sniping? You know, people used to think that keeping SLAVES was fine; we don't now. Why do you think that is?

Posted by: Craig | January 17, 2008 10:56 AM

This is so awful, and it needs to stop!!!!!!! I cannot understand why people still even go to these events out of everything to do with animals the truth about the circus is one of the things that most people are aware of. I know some out there still just do not know any better, but Peta has done a great job at making this big awareness. They will be here in my town in just a few weeks I have wrote many letters to the editor...It is not right to go and pay money to this show for a couple hours of entertainment these animals suffer a lifetime of pain...As much as I hate to say these attacks are needed for they help state the case as to why the circus should be forbidden. Peta’s list of charges on this circus are overwhelming so why does it continue????????

Posted by: Dana | January 17, 2008 10:58 AM

I work for a company that does business with Ringling Bros when they come to Phoenix. I spoke to the lady we deal with about animal activist and she laughed. She and the entire company laugh at us!!! They do because we deserve it. When it comes time for us to leave our homes and actually protest, we don't show in very large numbers. She told me the turnout for the opening of the season in New York was so dismal, the head Ringling guy said he could have gotten a better turn out in 30 minutes!! WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN WRITE ON BLOGS...WE NEED TO TURN OUT IN DROVES!!!

Posted by: Darcy in AZ | January 17, 2008 12:02 PM

how sure are you that a elephant ettacked joe fresco jr?

Posted by: judith hoffman | January 17, 2008 01:02 PM

If we want to stop all this we have to put more pressure on the goverment and also on the media to show more to the public.
I'm sure most people that buy tickets simply know too little about the conditions and that if they would know they wouldn't bring their family ( young children!)to watch it. A lot of people think that animals enjoy doing these tricks, how trange this may sound to many of us.
K, you talk about a great family trip but in spain many people think the same about bull fighting. How good or friendly animals are thaught to entertain us, the condition in wich they travel and live is never good enough for animals that should be out there in the wild. The circus is a tradition for many and can continue to be, look at cirque du soleil, at this moment the most popular circus of the world, without animals.
I'm from holland and pleased to say that the minister responsable for animal welfare is seriously looking into circusses and the use of animals, she might prohibit the practice completely. Now it's up to us to put the pressure and support for this plan. Remember, we are the people, we give the goverment power, they are here to serve us and have to listen to what we want and feel. If enough people complain,demant, boycot, sent letters, protest ect. ect., they can't turn a blind eye any longer.
ps.: I do realize that many people already spent their lives protesting and fighting for animals and think it's great, we just need more!

Posted by: Inge | January 17, 2008 01:52 PM

Hi Ana!

Are you the schoolteacher Ana, or a different Ana?

Anyway, I wasn't sure what your message meant, but what I intended to put across before was this:

PETA may want to take advantage of this series of events; the public is horrified by the recent death of the kid who taunted the tiger.

Therefore, PETA may want to jump at the chance to rally around the idea that large animals should not be in zoos. Polar bears, tigers, elephants, etc etc. Same for circuses.

Of course in an ideal world no animal would be forced to live in a zoo, but just like with pet stores, we have to take one step at a time.

Timing is everything; the public is ready to hear it.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | January 17, 2008 04:46 PM

Plain and simple. If people will not go to the Circus then there will be no abuse. That was a way of life in the early days, but not now. These animals are DRIVEN to the brink of Insanity, then punished. The Circus is not a way of life. It needs to STOP!!!!

Posted by: TexasGirl | January 17, 2008 07:26 PM

i agree i was soo angry and upset that i sent them and email ... i agree with whoever wants to get the animal rights group together and say enough is enough.. and if anyone has any good ideas email me cuz i want to get invovled.

Posted by: JORDAN | January 17, 2008 10:31 PM

i agree i was soo angry and upset that i sent them and email ... i agree with whoever wants to get the animal rights group together and say enough is enough.. and if anyone has any good ideas email me cuz i want to get invovled.

Posted by: JORDAN | January 17, 2008 10:32 PM

What horrific inhumane treatment these majestic elephants have to endure from DUMB IGNORANT ANIMAL ABUSERS !AND EVENTUALLY MURDERERS no wonder they will attack back as a last resort to be left in peace ! only to be shot numerous times eventually dying a horrible death ! The public are fully aware of what goes on behind the scenes, how many more incidents do we have to hear/see about before all States dont want your Circus's ??? we do'nt want these animal abusers/Circus's . The animal circus life is just getting away with abusing animals with electric probes and hooks to get them to perform mindless trivial tricks. ALL ANIMAL CIRCUS'S SHOULD BE CLOSED DOWN AND OWNERS AND TRAINERS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH FELONY ANIMAL ABUSE AND HEFTY FINES.

Posted by: carmela moseley | January 17, 2008 10:48 PM

What horrific inhumane treatment these majestic elephants have to endure from DUMB IGNORANT ANIMAL ABUSERS !AND EVENTUALLY MURDERERS no wonder they will attack back as a last resort to be left in peace ! only to be shot numerous times eventually dying a horrible death ! The public are fully aware of what goes on behind the scenes, how many more incidents do we have to hear/see about before all States dont want your Circus's ??? we do'nt want these animal abusers/Circus's . The animal circus life is just getting away with abusing animals with electric probes and hooks to get them to perform mindless trivial tricks. ALL ANIMAL CIRCUS'S SHOULD BE CLOSED DOWN AND OWNERS AND TRAINERS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH FELONY ANIMAL ABUSE AND HEFTY FINES.

Posted by: carmela moseley | January 17, 2008 10:48 PM

I DO NOT HAVE ANY PITY FOR THE MAN, ALL ELEPHANTS SHOW BE IN SANTUARIES AND NOT FORCED TO TO STUPID TRICKS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN GO TO CIRCUSES THAT DO NOT HAVE ANIMALS. TOO BAD THE ELEPHANT DIDNT KILL HIM, ONE LESS ANIMAL ABUSER ON THIS EARTH IS A GOOD THING!

Posted by: Cyndi | January 18, 2008 08:30 AM

I would like to bite those men's heads off that did that to those poor helpless elephants!

Posted by: Kelsey | January 18, 2008 09:30 AM

I would like to bite those men's heads off that did that to those poor helpless elephants!

Posted by: Kelsey | January 18, 2008 09:30 AM

its sad that you don't have to have any intellegence to work in a circus, otherwise naturally they would be doing something else.and the shame of it is they have children who grow up with this abuse and think this is the way life is, unless they meet someone on the outside who doesn't believe in the circus bullshit. I don't feel sorry for the trainer, i think he got what he deserved. the animal remembers all the abuse and took the opportunity. If people had the smarts and took the time and treated them right they would get more out of them. Even though I don't believe any animal should be in captivity or used for entertainment or anything that that they don't do naturally. People in circuses have to have a mean streak otherwise they couldn't do what they do if they had a any feelings. they probably deal with their children the same way. thats why they are carneys.
put an end to circuses forever.If people want to go on highwires and do tricks so be it, but a circus free of animals. Peta your doing a great job and if anyone can stop it you definitely can.I just feel sorry for that elephant that attacked joe frisco jr. because the pain he felt before will only be intensified even more when he gets back. I wonder if John Ringling was as ruthless training animals back then as they are now.

Posted by: carolfinelli | January 18, 2008 10:02 AM

I have recently become a member of CAPS after watching a couple of very disturbing video clips of animal abuse.What I find frustrating is how much more evidence will there have to be collated in order to free these animal particularly from the circus....My only worry is the elephant probably got the beating of his life for doing this..I wish they would trample them all to death.

Posted by: louise | January 18, 2008 12:18 PM

I feel so sad for humankind when you hear how these gentle creatures are abused to the point where they feel forced to retaliate! All circuses should be outlawed and banned.

Posted by: elizabeth nieciecki | January 18, 2008 01:31 PM

I feel so sad for humankind when you hear how these gentle creatures are abused to the point where they feel forced to retaliate! All circuses should be outlawed and banned.

Posted by: elizabeth nieciecki | January 18, 2008 01:32 PM

HA HA.. too bad he wasn't sat upon by this lovely animal. I wouldn't call him a "trainer" because that word is for the experienced. This idiot likes to show his authority, so you can well imagine how he treats people. Yep, just a big jerk that will get what he so deserves. Stay tuned for the next round of ignorance. LOSER!!

Posted by: Shirley Morozuk | January 18, 2008 01:59 PM

I am 100% anti-circus! It amazes me, however, that with all the video footage and eye witness accounts of this abuse that some people still support the circus!
What saddens me even more is that only 5 people showed to protest one of the recent visits by Ringling Bros. in Orlando, FL. PLEASE PROTEST THESE EVENTS IN LARGE NUMBERS!

Posted by: Michael | January 18, 2008 02:13 PM

This man shouldn't be in jail. If anything he should go through the same pain he put those elephants through. I wouldn't mind doing it myself.

Posted by: Bobbie Province | January 18, 2008 02:27 PM

What's happening, Jack??

Posted by: Carla | January 18, 2008 02:29 PM

They are fucking murders. If you put a man in the electric chair and he doesn't die on the first round then he is not put throw the same thing again. So why is it that this elephant took what 20 to 30 bullets in who know where? It should have taken one bullet. And to those fuckers that are using these hooks. A female, I can't believe it. A fucking female doing this to a defenseless animal. Wish there is someone out there that will do the same to these people as they did to these elephants. I wish I could be that person...

Posted by: Bobbie Province | January 18, 2008 02:44 PM

Maya your so right perfect opportunity for All Animal Rights groups to get involved.
Darcy in AZ and Michael are also right. People need to show up at these events to let the people who are going in understand what happens to the animals they are paying to see.
Thanks to all that care!
Lets end this abuse...we each need to do what we can!

Posted by: Holly | January 18, 2008 06:12 PM

Oh my God, that video was so cruel. They beat those poor animals. I would never go to a circus. How can a human being cause so much pain. those people was sick just plain sick. I cried when that elephant was shot, he didnt deserve that kind of death.

no matter what negative things I hear about peta, they really care about the animals.

I have given up meat and every time I sign on to there web site my choice is reforce.

god bless all .
ann

Posted by: antoinette | January 18, 2008 08:27 PM

Oh my God, that video was so cruel. They beat those poor animals. I would never go to a circus. How can a human being cause so much pain. those people was sick just plain sick. I cried when that elephant was shot, he didnt deserve that kind of death.

no matter what negative things I hear about peta, they really care about the animals.

I have given up meat and every time I sign on to there web site my choice is reforce.

god bless all .
ann

Posted by: antoinette | January 18, 2008 08:28 PM

Dear Matthew:
You may only be 14, but you have the wisdom of a sage.
It makes me feel better to know that there are good people like you growing up in the world today! Keep on fighting the good fight and maybe there will BE no more circuses with animal acts in the future. Circuses like
"Cirque du Soleil" are terrific and no animal gets hurt in those performances.

Posted by: Susannah S | January 18, 2008 09:36 PM

This guy is a kill-joy. He kills the joy and life out of these elephants and makes them not want to live. If you beat a wild animal up enough it will turn on you. I am glad this elephant turned on Frisco but I'm afraid of what the elephant got for doing it. People like Frisco are compensating for something that they do not have and they are control freaks. The worse kind of people. I wonder if Frisco is married w/ children and what they really think of him as a man. God Bless the Animals and God Bless PETA for everything that you do for them. I'm on your side.

Posted by: Karla D | January 19, 2008 03:33 AM

good for the elephant. Too bad the so called'trainer' didn't die. All circuses should be shut down immediately. I don't understand how ignorant people still support circuses and zoos.

i swear to never go to a circus involving animals or any other show or exibit of obvious animal abuse

Posted by: oddball, animal lover | January 20, 2008 12:13 PM

go eliphant

Posted by: Ryan | January 20, 2008 05:10 PM

I no longer go to the circus and till now I can undertand why people coninue to go

i send my love to elephants and other animals confined in this situation for life.

I pray for them and send them good, positive energy

Posted by: monica ximena piedrahita | January 20, 2008 07:30 PM

Easy people, though the treatment of the elephants was cruel. A man doesn't deserve to loose his life over it!

Posted by: Kurt K | January 21, 2008 01:49 PM

Its also pretty sick when you think that most people will instantly blame an animal no matter what. Like its NEVER the persons fault and the animal suddenly turned aggressive. How damn stupid are these people? I think people support circuses and many other types of animal abuse because
a- they are not aware about animal cruelty OR
b- they simply dont care about animals.

Posted by: rose | January 21, 2008 02:44 PM

Maya

I was agreeing with you but I also wanted to point out that as humans we should want to behave as the moral animals we purport to be and stop abusing/killing animals. The rest was just a rant which happens when I am overwhelmed with the abuse animals endure daily. Whew! Peace!

Posted by: Ana | January 21, 2008 03:48 PM

I think this is unheard of omg how does this crap go on and peta has this footage and doesnt do anything but show us what can we do atleast they are a big organization do something about it i have been filling these things out for years and still the same shit.I watch these clips and it make me sick but what can i do go there myself. i watch the chicken thing made me sick they even pisses where the chickens were being killed what about doing something ??? also look at the animals they should have checks like kids if people see this stuff then maybe they wont go to these things.buy your kid a candy apple and stay home or show your child thats what they do to the anmails i am sure they wont go we the parents should not take them to these shows this sickens me to the fullest. DO SOMETHING SOMEONE TO HELP THESE ANIMALS

Posted by: donna | January 22, 2008 03:47 AM

What investigations are underway into the culpability of the principals for this??
Or, is there a process?

Posted by: SUE | January 22, 2008 05:40 AM

This is one of the saddest things I've ever seen... look at their eyes, look at any animals eyes, how can anybody do this and live their lives like it's nothing.... SICK!!!

Posted by: katie schwermann | January 22, 2008 01:27 PM

Ana,

That's okay! No matter what silly blog disagreements we have, at the end of the day you, me and PETA are all working to get these poor wild animals out of this nightmare.

Are you with me? Yes!

Posted by: Maya, CVT | January 22, 2008 01:28 PM

looking at this video makes me want to cry. I love elephant and seeing them being abused like this... Okay this video has succeded in making me cry...

Posted by: sensitivesoul | February 12, 2008 10:16 AM

what kind of elephant was it because im studing for elephants

Posted by: alicia | April 1, 2008 12:50 PM

i dont blame those elephant, hell if anyone of my family member die from someone beating them up or shooting them i would wanna kill that bastard that did it. animals is very unpredictable, and thats what happens when u mistreat them.

Posted by: anony | April 24, 2008 05:35 AM

why do the abusive owners always blame the animal?

Posted by: Sam | July 26, 2008 09:37 PM

I wish I could beat them with sticks and hooks.Wherever the circus CLOWNS are that beat those poor elephants are I hope they get what they deserve! Remember payback's a BITCH...

Posted by: Jo-Ann G. | December 8, 2008 11:41 AM