1.0HappyCowhttps://www.happycow.net/blogChuckhttps://www.happycow.net/blog/author/Chuck/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="ILdSj5fB8S"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/blog/traveling-exotic-animal-protection-act/">Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.happycow.net/blog/traveling-exotic-animal-protection-act/embed/#?secret=ILdSj5fB8S" width="600" height="338" title="“Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act” — HappyCow" data-secret="ILdSj5fB8S" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/meeting.jpg500373While backpacking along the Appalachian Trail this past spring, I made a brief stop to replenish my dwindling stock of vegan food in the sleepy town of Erwin, Tennessee. While there, I had a conversation with one of the locals who relished in recounting a bit of Erwin’s notorious history for me. Yet much to my dismay, the most poignant story was one involving the tragic end of a traveling circus elephant named Mary. As the story goes, Mary was purchased, at the age of four, by the Sparks Brothers Circus in 1896. Mary was Charlie Sparks’ first exotic animal, and as the show expanded she was forced to endure lengthy travel to perform for curious onlookers. As the decades of abuse and relenting travel pressed on, there emerged a sudden new change in Mary’s life. A brand new handler was hired by the circus, and promptly furnished with the tool of the trade – a bullhook. For those unfamiliar with this implement, imagine a sharpened fireplace poker, used to inflict pain in order to punish and intimidate elephants. After enduring a full twenty years of abuse coupled with abhorrent conditions Mary’s will was broken, and one can imagine she […]