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Hello Fellow Animal Advocates,So it's that time yet again! The Big E(xploitation of Animals) is back this year, with Commerford Petting Zoo, which always includes camel and pony rides (12 hours/day), and POSSIBLY some exotic animals (kangaroo, zebra, patagonian cavies, African parrot, macaw, oryx, etc.). They also own 2 trailers with "freak" animals (a giant horse and giant pig) that people pay to walk through and gawk at. They are isolated from other animals and never see daylight or breathe fresh air. Commerford also has over 50 Animal Welfare Act violations, accidents and injuries. And they owned Beulah, an elephant who collapsed and died on day 3 of the 2019 Big E due to a uterine infection and septicemia. She was seriously ill yet they still chose to put her on display for The Big E to squeeze every last penny out of her. It's disgraceful that they are still allowed to be in business. Fortunately, their elephants and lemurs will never again be allowed back at The Big E now that The Circus Bill passed last year, although other wild animals may still be there and camels are seen by the USDA as "domestic". But domesticated animals suffer too! We must continue our campaign until The Big E removes Commerford Petting Zoo.
We will also be protesting pig racing and ox/horse pulls at The Big E this year.
Fortunately, we were told the circus will have no animals again. :)
Our work is paying off! Please contact The Big E and thank them for that big step forward, but urge them to remove Commerford Petting Zoo, pig racing and the ox/horse pulls. Scroll down for more info.
Your attendance is still VERY important, as we are FAR from done! There are still many animals in entertainment at The Big E that need our voice.
We will once again be using a flyer especially made for The Big E with the help of Compassionworks International (CWI). We are SO incredibly fortunate to have their help! ❤
EXHIBITS WE WILL BE PROTESTING:
1. Commerford & Sons Petting Zoo (https://commerfordzoo.com/) - Many animals are kept in a tiny confined space with loud mobs of people 12 hours a day, 17 days in a row.
They always have camel & pony rides and may have exotic animals too. The camels and ponies are forced to give rides 12 hours a day all 17 days. The ponies can barely move their heads as they're tightly tied to the pony wheel all day - https://photos.app.goo.gl/sAqJXHPkLLVvxDGW7.
Commerford has also had animals on display in trailers ("Unicow", “Porky the Giant Pig”, "Giant Horse", & “Smallest Horse”). They are kept isolated in tiny trailers to be gawked at, never able to see daylight or breathe fresh air. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QcFPC4Hwj7QohzMs8
* Commerford's long list of over 50 AWA violations & accidents/incidents - https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CommerfordPettingZooFactsheet.pdf
* Pictures of Commerford Petting Zoo at the 2023 Big E - https://photos.app.goo.gl/SCY2o2MPvkPxkG9H9
Two of their three elephants died in 2019...Beulah, as you know, while suffering from a uterine infection and septicemia at The Big E, and Karen, at just 38, at their Goshen, CT site.
Disturbing footage went viral in 2018 of Minnie looking sickly and limping and one of their exhausted camels in distress, unable to stand being forcefully yanked by the neck. That footage sparked nationwide outrage and our protests received news coverage from media outlets throughout New England.
https://www.wtnh.com/news/animals-and-wildlife/big-e-commerford-responds-to-outrage-over-big-e-elephant-attraction/
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/iteam-big-e-elephant-camel-pictures-social-media/
2. "Swifty Swine" Pig Racing -
Pig racing can be terrifying for piglets and the constant transportation is very stressful. The noise of the audience and fair frightens the pigs. The training techniques can also be cruel. They may involve food deprivation, electric shocks, or beatings. Even if they are not trained inhumanely, the pigs are confined to tiny transport cages or trailers and shipped from event to event much of the year. And there is rarely any veterinary care on hand for injured pigs.
3. Ox/Horse Pulls - This antiquated contest has no need nowadays. Imprisoned in yokes, the oxen and horses have no choice but to strain themselves to pull the concrete forward to avoid getting another vicious strike on their backs. There are no limits to the amount of strikes or whips they can receive. Some are even in the face. This is a form of slavery and is no longer necessary or justifiable in agriculture in this country. Yokes and whips are required in this cruel sport-like display where children are often in attendance.
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WHEN:
9/13-14, 12:00-2:00
9/20-21, 12:00-2:00
9/27-28, 12:00-2:00
***Please leave at LEAST 30 minutes early to prepare for traffic!!!
***Rain or shine, except in the case of heavy rain or thunderstorms! Check for a cancellation email, FB post, or call/text 413-374-1921 the day of protest.
***Signs will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. I'd be glad to provide you with ideas and even materials, if necessary.
***If anyone wants to carpool from my place, just 2 miles away, let me know! Notify me on messenger or text/call me at 413-374-1921.
WHERE: Outside Gate 4. We'll be across from Latitudes.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/F77fm85C3xzkhdPx8
* Bring at least $10-15 IN CASH for parking if you don't carpool or take public transportation.
* Or just put your walking shoes on! If you don't mind walking a little less than a mile, you can park for free at Big Y on Memorial Ave. (in Century Plaza, which is on the way).
TRANSPORTATION:
* CARPOOLING can often be arranged. Please post here &/or on WMARA's pages. Carpools are a HUGE help, so if you can take others, please offer on our FB pages. And I can take folks from my place, which is very close to the protest site! But please don't wait until last minute to let me know you'd like a ride.
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OTHER WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:
1. COMPLAIN TO BIG E CEO - Eugene Cassidy, at [email protected] and to THE BIG E at [email protected]! Thank them for removing animals from the circus, the camel show, and the bear trailer, urging them to never bring them back and to remove ALL animals in entertainment from The Big E.
Cassidy was quoted in this 2015 article in The Republican: "PETA calls on Big E to drop elephant show, petting zoo; fair president says Eastern States Exposition won't be bullied". He "dismissed the complaints, calling them politically motivated and intellectually dishonest" and "called it a 'sterling operation,' and one of the best he has seen in North America. Anyone who says that animals there are not properly cared for, he said, 'doesn’t know what he’s talking about.'" He has it all backwards and refuses to face the facts documented by the USDA.
***Tell them how upsetting it is to see Commerford Petting Zoo back, especially after Beulah's horrible death last year and the disturbing footage that went viral of Minnie in 2018 and a horrifying video showing a handler violently jerking a seemingly exhausted camel that was struggling to stand.
Commerford Petting Zoo has had a zebra, lemurs, kangaroo, oryx, macaw, and many domesticated animals in previous years. Animals in traveling zoos suffer tremendously just being shipped like cargo from venue to venue in tiny spaces. They belong in sanctuaries. The travel alone is extremely stressful and unnatural for them, especially those from tropical climates. They also get no exercise and many don't have a companion. They live a miserable life merely for human profit. Sanctuaries, museums, and videos are much more educational.
Please complain about the camel and pony rides too! They are forced like slaves to work 12 hours a day, are very poorly cared for, and the ponies' heads are chained to the revolving wheel. They can barely move their heads!
2. WRITE LETTER TO THE EDITOR! We must educate folks to keep them from supporting cruelty at The Big E. Please try to send a letter to all sources below before The Big E, but letters can also be sent afterwards if you don't have time or your first letter wasn't printed. I'd be glad to help you write it!
* The Republican - [email protected] (Include name, address, email address, & phone #. Should be brief).
* The Hampshire Gazette - https://www.gazettenet.com/Opinion/Submit-a-Letter
* The Reminder - [email protected]
* West Springfield Record - [email protected]
3. SPREAD THE WORD! SHARE this event page and urge others to take action too!
We are their only voice! THANK YOU!!!
Hope to see you at a protest!
For the Animals,
Sheryl
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Big E, Gate 4, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, MA, United States
