11 Facts About Animals in Entertainment

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1. Using animals in entertainment spectacles means removing animals from their natural habitat, keeping them confined in cages, and engaging them in unnatural behavior, all for human amusement.^[Born Free USA. “Ten Fast Facts about Animals in Entertainment.” 2014. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
2. There are variety of entertainment venues animals are used for, particularly circuses, zoos, and aquariums^[Animal Equality. “Entertainment.” Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
3. Circus training for animals often brutal and dangerous. Training methods can include use of beating clubs, electric prods, and deprivation of food.^[The Humane Society of the United States “Circus Myths: The true cruelty under the big top.” 2009. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
4. Less than 10% of the approximately 2,800 animal exhibitors licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums! An accreditation mean official recognition and approval of an exhibitor by experts.^[Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “What is Accreditation?” 2014. Web Accessed March 14, 2015.]
5. There is not a lot of protection for entertainment animals on the state and federal level. Many of the animals are not covered by the federal Animal Welfare Act.^[Born Free USA. “Ten Fast Facts about Animals in Entertainment.” Web Accessed March 14, 2015.]
6. Many circus animals travel -- for 11 months a year -- in box cars without temperature control, nor separate spaces for sleeping, eating, and defecating.^[PAWS. "Enjoy the Circus? The Animals Don't." Web Accessed March 14, 2015.]
7. Frustrated by years of beatings, bullhooks, and shackles, some elephants snap. In more than 35 dangerous incidents since 2000, elephants have bolted from circuses, crashed into buildings, attacked members of the public, and killed and injured handlers.^[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Circuses” Web Accessed March 14, 2015.]
8. Sea animals such as whales and dolphins are accustomed to traveling distances of 40 to 100 miles in a day, but when confined to a tank, they instead begin swimming in static patterns.^[The National Humane Education Society. “Captive Creatures: Zoos and Aquariums.” 2009. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
9. Horses are often injected with cocaine and other illegal drugs to disguise the pain they might feel during races.^[Conder, Chuck and Wian, Casey. “Animal welfare activists: Horse racing industry needs reform.” CNN, 2012. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
10. Dogfighting, cockfighting, and hog-dog fighting are the three most common types of animal fighting.^[Animal Legal Defense Fund. “Animal Fighting Facts.” 2009. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]
11. Dogfighting and cockfighting are illegal in all 50 states of the US.^[The Humane Society of the United States. “Dogfighting Fact Sheet.” 2014. Web Accessed March 13, 2015.]