The circus elephant, Nosey, has endured insurmountable pain and suffering for at least a decade. She has lived over 30 years giving rides to people strapped on her back. There is much footage of her limping and hobbling in pain, it appears that she suffers from arthritis – a medical condition that’s agonizing for captive elephants and can even be a death sentence for them.
Nosey’s owner Hugo “Tommy” Liebel, has a history of gross violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations and yet avoids prosecution. Sangita Iyer wrote an exposé of Nosey’s dreadful life in the Huffington Post back in September of 2014, which told her horrifying story. PETA has initiated many petitions and has criticized the USDA for not protecting Nosey.
There is a big community of supporters that sign petition after petition and follow Nosey around documenting her dismal life, hoping to gather more proof that her owner is abusive to her. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has offered to take her. They provide captive elephants the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven.
I have been one of those supporters hoping to give Nosey a better life. I decided to make a doppelgänger of Nosey and give 20% of the proceeds to the organization CompassionWorks International (CWI), who has been one of her ardent supports. (See it here.) They have assisted in locating her whereabouts so as to monitor and document her health. When able, they have filed complaints with the USDA for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. They help to facilitate protests, when that is the best course of action. And they have been involved in a dialogue with members of Congress, who directed a letter to the USDA on Nosey’s behalf.
CompassionWorks International (CWI) has a powerful mission statement:
We believe in kindness, respect, unity, dialogue, community, commitment, strategic action, one world for all beings, neighbors talking to neighbors, and friends sharing with friends. And, like you, we envision a day when all animals are able to live their lives free from unnecessary harm and suffering.
They are an advocate for all animals and I hope to continue a relationship with them. The issue around Cecil of trophy hunting and the captivity of orcas at Sea World is next on the list.
I am donating 20% of the proceeds of the sale of this elephant that I made in honor of Nosey to (CWI).
We need to send Nosey To A Sanctuary and stop captivating Elephants. Animals should not be used to entertain us.
If you want to help please sign these petitions.
Urge Congress to Take Action for Nosey the Elephant!
USDA – NO RENEWAL OF HUGO LIEBEL’S LICENSE ALLOWING HIM TO USE NOSEY/TINY FOR PERFORMANCES AND RIDES IN HIS CIRCUS OR ELSEWHERE!
Make The USDA Free Nosey The Elephant!
Retire Nosey the Elephant from the Circus Industry
Let’s Stop the Exploitation of Elephants! #SaveNoseyNow #Life4Nosey #CompassionWorks #TheyAreNotOurs #FreedomMatters
Be the Xtra in ordinary! Free Nosey the Elephant.
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