Comments on: Calls to stop elephant rides at fair renewed

By: alexis kaiser

alexis kaiser — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:46:48 +0000

Lorraine
I don’t believe I stated I would keep my mouth shut, so you have me confused. I also don’t see where I am bullying anyone. These is an amzaing thread. The true animal lovers, people in the industry outnumber the AR’s. I am hoping with the advent of the winning lawsuit agaisnt the HSUS and ASPCA that “us guy” aren’t going to take the lies,deceit and money-making propganada of the AR’s anymore. United we will stand. The truth about these people is coming to light. Let us all keep this going. The Show will Always go On!!!
I think we are still curious as to where an what Lorraine actually trained. But, we will never know, as, she said she is done commenting. We know her story is as fabricated as the lies the AR has been spilling about us “circus folks.” Solidarity!!!
WE LOVE OUR ANIMALS FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!

By: cindi

cindi — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:26:05 +0000

Hmmmmm, you lied. Shocking! For you to start in with personal attacks is just typical, (you circus folk!), please! Like I said, why don’t you pay a visit to the elephant rides at the fair, you will see no bullying. You will see content elephants, happy with the protection, attention and love they are given every single day. You will also see both children and adults reading signage and learning about those said elephants and a lot of people that will go home and learn more about them, maybe even get involved in conservation efforts and maybe even donate money to an organization that actually helps to preserve and protect a species instead of taking your hard earned dollars to pay their CEO’s and lawyers. If you think people keep elephants without a complete and total love for them you are sadly mistaken. Elephants are a 24 hour a day commitment. You don’t bully a family member, you protect them, love them and commit your life to them.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 06:04:14 +0000

Oh and Alexis, point proven! “I hope you keep to your word and keep your mouth shut.” You try and bully people just like all you circus folk bully the animals.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 05:52:43 +0000

I am sorry. I lied. Just one final response. Gag me Cindy and Nancy! Have you heard ot “The Spin Zone?”

By: Cindi

Cindi — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:09:28 +0000

I too am an an animal trainer (in the field for almost 25 years) and what Nancy says is spot on! You restrain your dog on a leash to protect him from harm. if he ran into the street would you stand on the sidewalk with a biscuit and hope he comes to you before the car gets there? No! You are running out there and moving him to wear he is safe. People watch videos all the time and believe they are real, because edited video can be very convincing. Why don’t the people who keep rattling off about abuse take the time to see these animals on site, at the fair, before they form their opinions just from listening to regurgitated rhetoric from extremists. I worked elephants for 15 years and can honestly say those elephants are some of the world’s (yes world’s) most cared for, loved and cherished elephants I have ever seen.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:47:25 +0000

Just a thought about the “treat” training method. I am also an animal trainer. (I hesitate to say for how many years not because I am being modest, but because it makes me sound old) I have used both positive reinforcement (treats) and what some call traditional (non-treats) training.

Treats are lovely. Animals love them. Heck, we all love treats! But in reality; in a pack, a herd, a flock or a pod; the lead animal doesn’t reward its group members with treats. Treat training is actually pretty un-natural. Animals do not communicate with each other using treats.

Is it wrong because it is un-natural? NO! Please; give shamu a fish… he likes it. And what are you going to do with a big, smelly fish anyway.

Treats are great… by all means, give your animals treats. They love it! But don’t mistake treats as “the natural way” to communicate and work with animals.

When mamma elephant wants her calf to step away from the river’s edge to avoid being grabbed by a crocodile… she doesn’t coax him with cookies. She grabs the tip of his trunk and squeezes gently but firmly saying, “whoa there my little one… I am trying to keep you safe”

These elephant trainers keep their elephants safe and healthy. Pictures and videos CAN lie… epecially in the hands of those who use them to fraudulently collect millions of dollars from well meaning american’s who think their “donations” are going to help animals. It is a crime. One I am glad we will finally see punished.

And now I am off to work with my birds …. with delicious treats.

By: alexis kaiser

alexis kaiser — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:11:07 +0000

I doubt that Lorraine has postted her last post. The AR
‘s dont give up. It’s so niceto see this thread as to so many others. It’s evident that the Johnsons have a fan club!
Lorraine, your statements are so far out in left field. Tired rhetoric of the extremists. WE’ve heard it before and it’s finally got old. Elephants are not beat, electrocute and chained, nor taken from the wild, ripping them away from their mother. Where do you get that from. Your statements show your inexperience with the animals and the industry.
I hope you keep to your word and keep your mouth shut.

By: Alice Wisdom

Alice Wisdom — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 06:38:38 +0000

Have Trunk Will Travel and the Johnsons are amazing people and elephant trainers. Anyone who has seen them interact with their elephants knows this to be true. People who claim abuse are uninformed extremists who have a political agenda to keep animals out of our lives. If they bothered to educate themselves or actually experience HTWT and their elephants they would be praising HTWT not attacking them.

There’s a reason no legitimate animal welfare or regulatory agency gives any credence to ADI’s video–it’s because they recognize that it’s a complete fabrication surreptitiously edited to make it look sinister. If there was actual abuse being caught on tape then why hold it back for 6 years? Turn it into the police so the abuse could be prosecuted. ADI waited 6 years because they knew they had nothing and needed the time to desperately edit it into the fundraising tool that it is.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 05:44:03 +0000

This is the last comment I will leave. Pictures and videos don’t lie. Additionally, there seems to be a common thread amongst you, Ron and Greg, one that I find commonly amongst circus folk-hostility, anger and intimidation in your words, actions and comments. You can intimidate animals because they have no voice, but you can’t intimidate educated people like myself or others who can see through the facade that the Johnson’s and their “life-long friends” portray, and that is, that the elephants live an idyllic life. Elephants beat, electrocuted, chained the majority of the day by one front leg and one back leg, and ripped from the wild when they were babies to live the life of modern day slaves is far from the idyllic life. That is why venue after venue have discontinued the elephant rides the Johnson’s offer. They don’t want to contribute to the abuse and neglect of these beautiful animals. Peace.

By: alexis kaiser

alexis kaiser — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:03:25 +0000

Lorraine,
You cant get into a tit for tat, because you don’t have the tits to stand on. You don’t know the truth. YOu know what you see on videos on YouTube. Myself and the other people here know the Johnsons. They are some of the most respected people in the industry. Additionally, I lived and worked circus for a lot of my life. You comments aren’t credible because they are not based on fact. Typical AR, you are right, Greg. End of story.