Taking the bull by the hook

Around the country, local communities are carefully considering a ban on the cruel bullhook.

First, let me give some background for those who don't know about this issue or what a bullhook is.

What is a bullhook?

The bullhook is a tool used to punish and control elephants. It is also known as, an ankus, elephant goad, or elephant hook. (The name changes because elephant "trainers" like to confuse people by saying, "No, we don't use bullhooks -we use an ankus" - no matter what name they use, it is still the same device. They've recently taken to calling it a "guide.") The handle is made of wood, metal, plastic, or fiberglass, and there is a sharp steel hook at one end and a sharp point. Its shape resembles a boat hook or fireplace poker. Some bullhooks have long, "shepherd's crook" cane-style handles, allowing the trainer a firmer grip so that greater force can be exerted while pulling and yanking the hook deeper into the elephant's flesh. Both ends inflict damage. The trainer uses the hook to apply varying degrees of pressure to sensitive spots on the elephant's body (see diagram), causing the elephant to move away from the source of discomfort. Holding the hooked end, the handle is swung like a baseball bat and induces substantial pain when the elephant is struck on the wrist, ankle, and other areas where there is little tissue between skin and bone.

What is the 'ban bullhook' legislation?

The legal language to introduce these bans can vary. For example, some "prohibit the use of an ankus, bullhook, or similar device on an elephant" while others "Prevent Abuse of Elephants." Their goal is the same, to make it illegal to use or prohibit the use of a device thathas the sole purpose of causing pain and injury to elephants. The city of Pompano Beach, Florida, banned bullhooks by categorizing them as devices "likely to cause physical injury, torment or pain and suffering to animals." And just in the last few years alone, the city of Chicago, and states of CA, MA, and CT all addressed the issue of bullhook cruelty.

Ok - moving on...

As you can imagine, the circus tries to turn obvious cruelty into a controversial issue.. At face value, you would think that banning something which causes animals to suffer would be an open and shut case - ban it. Once you look into the history of abuse caused by the bullhook, you will see that there is plenty of videotaped evidence and shocking reports of vicious beatings from circus employees. n. You would think that the circus would be embarrassed to admit that they are still using this barbaric tool that slices and punctures flesh and causes elephants to cry out in agony.

Well, they aren't.

Ringling Bros. does not even take on the issue of the bullhook, instead, they threaten the media and government officials by saying that they will boycott the city if the legislature passes a bill prohibiting the use of -what Ringling misleadingly calls "a guide"-the bullhook.

Here is an example from Connecticut's News channel where Ringling Bros. threatens to not come back if the bill passes.

You would think that if the safety and well-being of the elephants were important to Ringling Bros and other animal circuses that they would be willing to find an alternative to the device that has been proven to cause pain and injury to these elephants instead of threatening a city with a boycott.

Ringling Bros. and other circuses do not care about the well-being of these elephants and want to keep using the bullhook so they can inflict pain and force these majestic animals to perform silly tricks that they do not want to do. Check out this video, where elephant trainer, Tim Frisco, instructs would-be trainers how to dominate elephants and make them perform circus tricks as he yells, "Sink that hook into 'em."

-Before you watch the video- here is some trivia for you - Tim Frisco, the guy in this video, learned the trade from his father, a former trainer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Joe Frisco, Jr., the brother of Tim Frisco, is currently on the road as an elephant 'trainer/handler,' I like to say "abuser" with the Red Unit of Ringling Bros. and you may have seen his photo in my other posts, as he is the one who is carrying both the whip and the bullhook.

Just last year we filmed a Ringling Bros. trainer striking an elephant named Tonka with a bullhook. In the video, Tonka reacts with a series of cries. Moments later, a bloody wound can be seen behind her left earflap.

Ringling Bros. and other circuses will go to extremes to make sure they can keep using their torture device -the bullhook, ankus, elephant goad, or elephant hook. So please, consider working with your city council to ban bullhooks in your community. If the circus comes to your town please do not attend, unless it's to hit the streets with me.