Animals are not circus props! St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus continues to promote animal shows that include elephants, tigers, lions, camels, and bison. Animals used in circuses for human entertainment are deprived of anything that might satisfy their complex physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. With so many opportunities to captivate audiences using willing human performers, it’s a shame the Osman Shrine Circus chooses to continue exploiting animals.

Join us at any of the following times to stand in solidarity with the animals and educate the public about the cruelty involved in using animals for human entertainment.

On February 21st, Scott County officials will consider whether to revoke a conditional use permit for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival due to traffic and parking issues, and other permit violations at the Shakopee site. After years of protesting outside of the Renaissance Festival in opposition of their cruel animal rides, the Animal Rights Coalition is taking advantage of this opportunity to speak to Scott County and the public. ARC representatives and a longtime ARC volunteer (and Shakopee resident) will be present at the city council meeting to share concerns about the ethics of animal rides at the MN Ren Fest. Show support for the Ren Fest elephants by joining ARC at the public hearing on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00 pm. 

Other venues in the US, like the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, have already made the ethical decision to cancel cruel elephant rides. It’s time for Scott County to step up and do the same.

Photo taken by Brooke Reynolds (Captured by Brooke Photography): https://www.capturedbybrooke.com/…/Features/Ren-Fest-2017/

Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo is coming back to Minneapolis on February 3rd and 4th to glorify animal abuse for entertainment. This rodeo includes bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and barrel racing. The horses, bulls, and steer, often suffer broken ribs, backs, and legs, torn tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths. This year, they’re also allowing the public to ride ponies prior to the event. More information on why rodeos are cruel can be found here.  

Thankfully, some cities are making progress to eliminate or restrict this cruel excuse for entertainment. On  December 7, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council P.A.A.W. (Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare) Committee passed the Rodeo “Tools of Torment” Ban that will prohibit the use of the rodeo’s torture devices – specifically electric prods and shocking devices, spurs and rowels, and flank or bucking straps. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in Minnesota. 

Join ARC to stand up against the rodeo’s cruel animal abuse by peacefully protesting outside the Xcel Energy Center on Friday, the 3rd, from 6:30-7:45 pm. 

Sign up to volunteer here: https://forms.gle/Ctc5kvNF8Dz83y3P6

New York just became the 6th state to end the sale of puppies in pet stores! This includes cats and rabbits, as well. The new law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and takes effect in 2024, lets pet shops work with shelters to offer rescued or abandoned animals up for adoption rather than profiting off animals from commercial breeding operations, or puppy mills. “A puppy mill is a dog breeding operation in which the health of the dogs is disregarded in order to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits” (Avenson v. Zegart, 577 F. Supp. 958, U.S. District Court, Minnesota). To increase profits, mills breed more animals. Corners are cut such as staff shortages, lack of veterinary care, inadequate food and shelter, and other factors. Animals bred into these facilities are denied the ability to perform their natural behaviors such as exercising, socializing with others of the same species and humans, and in some cases, even seeing or feeling the fresh outdoors. To learn more about puppy mills and the benefits of a humane pet store ordinance, visit www.gohumaneblaine.com. 

Six states and over 390 localities across the county, including Roseville, Eden Prairie, St. Paul, Carver, and Cloquet, MN, have passed humane pet store laws. Unfortunately, there are still a few remaining pet stores in Minnesota that sell animals to consumers from commercial breeding operations. 

MN Pet Stores Supplied by Commercial Breeding Operations: http://www.minnesotansagainstpuppymills.com/mn-pet-stores.html

A Humane Pet Store Model in Minnesota “will help end puppy and kitten mill cruelty and prevent consumer heartache that can result from purchasing a sick or behaviorally challenged pet from a pet store” (gohumaneblaine.com). 

Take Action Here: http://www.gohumaneblaine.com/take-action.html 

Follow Minnesotan’s Exposing the Pet Trade for more information on ARC’s work to stop pet stores in Minnesota from buying and selling animals from puppy mills. 

Legalized animal abuse is coming to town again. The Professional Bull Riders: Unleash the Beast rodeo tour is returning to Minneapolis for the first time since 2019. On December 9th and 10th, “top bull riders in the world square off against the best bulls in the industry.” Join us in standing up against cruelty to animals by peacefully protesting outside the Target Center on Friday, December 9th.

Rodeos are extremely cruel and deadly for the animals involved. Watching terrified animals in pain is not entertaining, it’s brutal exploitation and should be shut down immediately. More information on why rodeos are cruel can be found here: https://www.britannica.com/…/rodeo-cruelty-forget-the-myth

Sign up to volunteer at the protest here: https://forms.gle/qzBLspfmRNWv1RSv6

“My favorite piece of what the Animal Rights Coalition does is the outreach! Sharing veganism with the community through events, educating on the HUGE positive impact, and making it accessible! Being welcomed into veganism and having support has meant the world to me and my family!” – Sarabeth Kelly 

These are words from one of the many ARC members who chose to Give to the Max for ARC this year. ARC uses outreach to educate the public about animal rights in many different forms including leafleting, tabling, pay-per-view virtual reality, TV outreach, peaceful protests, educational workshops, cooking classes, grocery shopping tours, school presentations, volunteer meetings, training sessions, movie screenings, plant-based pop-ups, community potlucks and running a vegan boutique. We are grateful Sarabeth has been a longtime supporter of ARC and we’re thrilled she feels the same way about us! See what other members are saying about why they chose to Give to the Max for ARC. 

Scan the QR code (shown above) or check out our fundraising page at: 

https://givemn.org/organization/Animal-Rights-Coalition 

Thank you for your continued support! 

You’re invited to ARC’s 27th Annual Turkey-Free Friendsgiving Potluck! Join us on Sunday, November 13th, from 4:00-6:00 pm at Living Spirit United Methodist Church to eat delicious vegan food and reunite with new and familiar faces. All are welcome! You do not need to be vegan or vegetarian to attend. Bring a vegan main dish, side dish, or dessert to share and ARC will provide beverages, along with a variety of vegan holiday roasts and cheeses to sample. A huge thanks to The Herbivorous Butcher for their support and donation of delicious vegan cheeses and holiday roast!

If you’re interested in volunteering at the Friendsgiving event, ARC needs help setting up beforehand, staffing the plant-based cheese table, greeting people as they enter, taking photos, helping the dishwasher and cleaning up at the end. Sign up to volunteer here!