DSPCA accused of incompetence as ailing circus Elephant is secretly removed from Ireland

national | animal rights | press release

Tuesday August 22, 2006 22:38

by Nuala Donlon - Captive Animals Protection Society

nualadon at hotmail dot com

086 3985761

The Captive Animals Protection Society Ireland (CAPS) has slammed the DSPCA for its imcompetence following the society’s failure to secure an x-ray and Veterinary treatment for Max the male African Elephant in Circus Sydney, who has been removed from Ireland despite being the subject of a Garda Investigation under the 1911 anti –cruelty legislation.

Max who had a severely deformed hind leg which was clearly causing him distress was forced to perform in the ring nightly. This had prompted floods of calls to SPCAs throughout the country since the start of the circus season.

The Captive Animals Protection Society Ireland (CAPS) has slammed the DSPCA for its imcompetence following the society’s failure to secure an x-ray and Veterinary treatment for Max the male African Elephant in Circus Sydney, who has been removed from Ireland despite being the subject of a Garda Investigation under the 1911 anti –cruelty legislation.

Max who had a severely deformed hind leg which was clearly causing him distress was forced to perform in the ring nightly. This had prompted floods of calls to SPCAs throughout the country since the start of the circus season.

His plight hit the headlines in late July when CAPS Ireland spokesperson Ms Nuala Donlon was assaulted by Max’s handler as she tried to take photographs of the Elephants ailing leg during the shows interval. Official complaints by CAPS Ireland and an independent wild animal expert to Gardai in Blackrock had sparked the investigation under the 1911 Protection of Animals act.

DSPCA officials, having failed to get Max’s leg x-rayed while Sydney were in Dublin had given a public undertaking that the Elephant would be taken to UCD Veterinary Hospital today Aug 22nd.for the procedure. Instead it appears that both Elephants in Circus Sydney have been spirited out of Ireland to avoid possible prosecution.

Ms Donlon has strongly criticised the DSPCA for its failure to get proper testing and follow- up treatment for Max. Quote ‘the DSPCA has failed abysmally in their duty to this animal and Circus Sydney has shown its utter contempt for the Animal welfare authorities and the Gardai in this Country’ Ms Donlon said.

‘The fact that Circus Sydney have ‘disappeared’ Max clearly indicates that they knew the results of the x-ray would bear out our concerns and leave them open to prosecution under the 1911 Act. The DSPCA has not only been given the fingers by this Courtney’s outfit- it has lost a golden opportunity to get an Elephant out of the hellhole for animals that these travelling menageries are’.Ms Donlon continued.

At present Circuses in this Country are a law onto themselves as no legislation exists to govern the keeping, management or training of often large exotic species in these travelling shows. Among the species to be found in circuses currently touring Ireland are Elephants, Hippos, Rhinos, Giraffe, Tigers, Camels, Alligators and Kangaroos.

‘The welfare of these animals is massively compromised in Circuses, the only solution is for the Irish Government to introduce legislation outlawing the keeping of animals in Circuses’ Ms Donlon said.