Lion's death spurs plan to protest circus show

By Rachel Tuinstra
Times Snohomish County bureau

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Frank Hagan, a former Ringling Bros. employee, said he watched the 2-year-old lion, Clyde, die after a long, hot day aboard the circus train as it traveled through the Mojave Desert in mid-July — an account Ringling Bros. disputes.

Hagan and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) plan to hold a news conference today in Everett.

The organization's announcement falls on the same day the Everett City Council is scheduled to consider a permit for the circus' animal parade through city streets, an event that kicks off the circus' run Sept. 16-19. The council meets this morning to consider a street closure that would allow Ringling Bros. to walk its 12 elephants, 20 horses and eight zebras from the Everett Station to the events center on Sept. 15.

But Hagan and PETA say there's a larger issue at stake.

"I want people to realize what goes on behind the scene," Hagan said. "They try to paint a rosy picture. But there is abuse and neglect and even if they claim to love the animals, they don't."

Ringling Bros. does everything it can to ensure its animals are healthy and treated well, said circus spokesman Darin Johnson.

"People were devastated; these animals are part of our family," Johnson said. "And we have an investment in these animals, they're our stars. We want to make sure they receive the best care possible."

PETA plans to help organize protests of the circus' events in Everett, its only Washington state stop, said Lisa Wathne, PETA spokeswoman. PETA held similar news conferences earlier this week in San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., preceding Ringling Bros. events in those cities, Wathne said. PETA regularly protests the treatment of circus animals.

"We feel strongly that when people hear how animals are treated and suffer, they will care and decide not to buy tickets or support animal cruelty," Wathne said.

A necropsy on the lion could not conclusively determine a cause of death and a veterinarian check of the remaining 12 lions showed them all to be healthy, Johnson said. The lions ride in specially-made, semi-enclosed transport cages that are well ventilated and meet federal regulations, he said.
 
The lion's death is being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal Care program, which monitors and regulates the care and treatment of animals on exhibit, such as in zoos, circuses, entertainment acts and aquariums, said Jim Rogers, a USDA spokesman.

Since 1990, the USDA has investigated Ringling Bros. 17 times for possible violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, but the circus has never been found guilty, Rogers said.

Ringling Bros. is also conducting an internal investigation of how its lions and tigers are transported, Johnson said.

Johnson said that Ringling Bros. employee records show that Hagan was working in a cafeteria train car on the day the lion died. Hagan said he was one of the animal handlers in charge of making sure the lions were watered, fed and had clean bedding.

Everett officials said the show will go on at the events center.

"While we understand there are varying views on the circus, we have the utmost confidence that the animals will be provided safe conditions in Everett," said city spokeswoman Kate Reardon.

Rachel Tuinstra: 425-783-0674 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com