ACTION ALERT! Come Protest the Guilford Fair Saturday, Sept. 22

PLEASE JOIN THE PROTEST OF THE GUILFORD FAIR!!! Local Activists will protest, leaflet, and more to urge Connecticut citizens NOT to support the exploitation of animals for their amusement. The 'star' of the show and the focus of our protest will be Dondi, a 34 year old Asian elephant who has spent her entire life deprived of the companionship of other elephants, abused, and exploited for the entertainment of circus-goers.

Please plan to meet on SATURDAY MORNING, Sept. 22, at the intersection of Stonehouse Lane and Lover's Lane in Guilford no later than 11:30. Directions to the Guilford Fair



The Guilford Fair has traditionally been a celebration of the exploitation of animals used as food. The Fair has also been the site of horse and oxen pulls, exotic animal displays and "petting zoos". This year the Guilford Fair includes all of these events as well as Dondi.

Dondi is a 34 year old Asian elephant who has spent her entire life deprived of the companionship of other elephants, abused, and exploited for the entertainment of circus-goers. She was born in a logging camp in Thailand and taken from her mother when she was about 9 months old, despite the fact that, in the wild, she would have stayed in her mother’s company, in a herd with other closely related elephants, for life. She was brought to this country in 1974 and has lived with Phil and Francine Schacht since then, performing with them and their son Joshua in a seemingly endless list of circuses all over the country. They travel tens of thousands of miles each year. Dondi lives either chained inside a small metal trailer or chained or in a small enclosure outside the performance venues, at times with no shade or shelter. She is sometimes used to give rides, too.

The Schachts repeatedly refer to Dondi as part of their family. (In an interview, Ms. Schacht said, “We love Dondi like our own baby, but we realize God put animals on this
earth to serve people." ) They claim that she would not be happy without their company. Elephants are known to be extremely social animals; Dondi has rarely, if ever, been permitted the company of others of her kind.

Elephant advocates that have seen Dondi in various locations over the past several years have expressed growing concern for her mental and physical health. She is frequently reported to have bullhook wounds. Her behavior is not that of a healthy elephant – she constantly sways, cries out, and hits at objects near her: stereotypic behaviors that usually indicate severe stress or boredom.
Many have expressed concern that she is near a breaking point.

Dondi will be appearing with the Schachts at the Guilford Fair this weekend, September 21, 22, and 23 – she will be performing and giving rides. The Fair will also feature numerous other exploited animals: there will be pig races,
ox pulls, and animals who have been raised to be food.
Elephant Appreciation Day is held annually on September 22 to honor one of the world’s most beloved animals. This year, please appreciate Dondi by asking the Schachts to stop exploiting and abusing her, and by asking the Guilford Fair management to stop endorsing this exploitation. Appreciate Dondi the elephant by allowing her finally to be an elephant, to roam in the company of other elephants, as she was meant to do.


Please email
Justin
Derek for More info:

The Guilford Fair is being held this weekend:
Friday, September 21st, 2007:
1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007:
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 23rd, 2007:
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Event Times and Directions to the Guilford Fair

‎