Pamela Anderson penned a letter to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier this week, urging our Taoiseach to help PETA in the fight to ban wild-animal circuses in Ireland.
The former Baywatch star is a passionate advocate for animal rights and has taken her role as Honorary Director of PETA seriously. She has used her fame to promote vegan eating, highlight animal cruelty and to create The Pamela Anderson Foundation which focuses on connecting resources for charity.
#EmptyTheTanks pic.twitter.com/YriMgPuanl
— Pamela Anderson (@pamfoundation) March 18, 2017
The Prohibition of Wild Animals in Circuses Bill 2017
The Prohibition of Wild Animals in Circuses Bill 2017 would essentially mean a nationwide ban on the use of wild animals in circus performances. Additionally, it would make it an offence to train animals for performance or exhibition.
Animal rights activists from PETA have noted that although numerous countries have banned wild-animal circuses, it has yet to become mandatory across the country. As Pamela says in her letter:
"towns and cities across Ireland are overwhelmingly passing motions to ban them from public land. I truly hope Ireland seizes this opportunity to implement a national ban."
The ISPCA
In 2016, the ISPCA called for the ban on the use of wild animals in circuses with their 'Big Stop Campaign', as they said in a statement:
"The ISPCA believes that the complex welfare needs of wild animals such as elephants, tigers, lions, zebra and sea lions, cannot be met in the travelling circus environment.
"The ISPCA is opposed to the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. Circuses serve no conservation purpose and fail to educate their visitors about the animals used by them."
Read a copy of Pamela's letter to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny below:
"Dear Mr. Kenny,
I was excited to learn from my friends at PETA that a bill has been put forward to ban wild-animal circuses in Ireland. As a longtime animal advocate, I give the bill my full support—and I hope it has yours, too.
Animals in circuses never benefit from 'the luck of the Irish.' Instead, they're denied everything that is natural and important to them. They spend their lonely lives constantly on the move, transported in cramped conditions, and shackled or caged for hours on end. And they don't perform tricks such as jumping through rings of fire or dancing on their hind legs for fun - but out of fear of punishment.
Today, most decent people see animal circuses for what they are: cruelty. Consequently - as I was pleased to hear - towns and cities across Ireland are overwhelmingly passing motions to ban them from public land. I truly hope Ireland seizes this opportunity to implement a national ban and joins the ever-growing list of countries that have banished this archaic form of so-called 'entertainment.' I would love nothing more than to visit your beautiful country and raise a glass of Guinness (I hear it's vegan now!) with you when that day arrives.
Sincerely yours,
Pamela Anderson"
