Animal abuse is wrong.
Animal abuse is wrong, whether the victims are dogs or elephants. It is cruel and immoral and The Commerford Zoo in Goshen is a prime offender.
Two of the three elephants at Commerford have died this year. The death of Karen, a 38-year-old African elephant in March, was kept from the public. In contrast, Beulah, a 54-year old Asian elephant, died from a treatable infection in September in front of fairgoers at the Big E.
I’m standing with fellow legislators and animal rights activists in calling on Governor Lamont to take action to send Minnie – Commerford’s surviving pachyderm – to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the Performing Animal Welfare Society in California.
Minnie has been transported by Commerford to events all across the Northeast where she is forced to perform tricks and give rides under threat of a device designed to inflict pain on elephants. This is inhumane. Commerford has been cited more than 50 times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failing to maintain the minimum standards required by the Animal Welfare Act.
Minnie’s survival is at stake. She should be given the chance to live freely with her specie companions and without the threat of suffering pain at the hands of humans. It is time we end the show on CT’s legacy of exploiting exotic animals like Minnie for profit through forced spectacle, entertainment and service at the expense of these majestic animals’ health and life.