Bob Barker, Jorja Fox Fight to Stop Circus Animal Cruelty

Bob Barker, the legendary host of “Price is Right,” and “CSI” star Jorja Fox, joined with Animal Defenders International (ADI) and Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) today to introduce legislation to Congress to end the suffering and unacceptable conditions circus animals are forced to endure.

Barker, a long-time animal rights activist who retired from the TV pricing game in 2006, traveled to Washington to support the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, which, once launched, will restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses.

“Exotic animals cannot be healthy and can’t even approach being happy in a traveling circus,” the 87-year-old game show icon explained during a Capitol Hill news conference, noting that traveling circuses rely heavily on animals that are trained to do tricks, which he said is accomplished with acts of cruelty. “They never know a day that is really pleasurable. We all have problems, but we all have good days. These animals don’t have good days.”

Fox, Barker’s celebrity co-host, echoed the call for setting up more permanent residences for circus animals, and taking them off the road.

“Our kids look to us for what is right and our kids look to us for what is fun. … If our kids knew how cruel and violent these events were, I think they’d actually be very disappointed in us, for [going] to these places,” Fox said.

Supporters of the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act(TEAPA), point out that 20 countries – included Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Peru, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and India among others – have already passed similar legislation, and add that more than a half-dozen countries are soon likely to follow suit.

“It is time for the United States to join this parade of nations that is doing the right thing,” Bob Barker said.

For more information on the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act head over to ADI’s website.

via CNN