July 17, 2007
Nelson J. Marchioli, President, CEO & Director
Denny's Corporation
203 E. Main St.
Spartanburg, SC 29319-9966
Re: Denny's promotional arrangement with Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus
Dear Mr. Marchioli:
I am writing you today to add my voice to the many others disturbed
by your decision to promote Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Ringling Bros. has a long list of citations handed out by USDA with
regard to its (mis)treatment of animals; in 2006 alone they were
cited three times for failing to provide basic veterinary care to
animals suffering various physical ailments. They were twice
cited that same year for improper handling of dangerous animals, thus
putting the public at risk. Ringling prevents itself from being
convicted of basic welfare violations not by correcting the problems
involved, but by agreeing to pay settlement fines. Numerous
investigations are ongoing; videotaped evidence of substandard
treatment commonly meted out to the animals owned by Ringling is rife
on the internet. In short, by supporting Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus, Denny's is supporting animal abuse.
Even were the conclusion presented above believed to be untrue,
Ringling Bros. Circus presents a sorry picture with regard the
treatment of animals who, whether captive born or not, are
essentially wild. Chaining elephants for long periods of time,
training them by use of bullhooks, transporting them and the many
other animals owned by Ringling back and forth across the country in
order to have them perform unnatural tricks for the pleasure of human
spectators, are all indicative of a fundamental lack of respect for
the animals involved – animals who are, for the full tenure of their
ownership by Ringling, denied the right to engage in their natural
physical and social behaviors. The time for animal enslavement
is over and, rather than lending support to an archaic and inhumane
practice by which animals are forced to endure physical and
psychological hardship for the sake of monetary profit, it is my hope
that Denny's Corporation will look toward the future and end the
promotional engagement it has entered into with Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely & etc. . . .
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