Target: Pat O’Conner, President of Minor League Baseball (MiLB)
Goal: Thank O’Conner for urging MiLB to end the use of all animals in the league’s events and promotions.
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) has faced recent criticism for its “monkey rodeos.” In this spectacles, capuchin monkeys are dressed in ridiculous outfits and forcibly strapped to dogs, which take them on a terrifying sprint around the field. These loud, chaotic events are often very stressful for these delicate animals and sometimes result in injury. Life off the field isn’t any better for these unfortunate monkeys. They are kept in confinement, unable to express their most basic behaviors and instincts. Sadly, many teams in the league have endorsed this cruel form of “entertainment,” much to the dismay of animal lovers everywhere. Capuchins, like most monkeys, are remarkably intelligent and sensitive animals. Keeping them in captivity and forcing them to perform is seen by most as nothing less than animal abuse.
Now, thanks to pressure from thousands of concerned animal rights advocates and petitions like this one here on ForceChange, the President of MiLB is speaking out against monkey rodeos. In response to the voices of supporters like you, Pat O’Conner has publicly denounced the use of monkey rodeos in all MiLB events. In fact, he has called for not only the end of these rodeos, but the use of any animals in MiLB-sponsored events. This is an important step toward ending the exploitation of live animals in sports. By showing concern for the well-being of animals used for entertainment, O’Conner will hopefully set a compassionate example for any other sports team or league considering using live animals.
Thank MiLB’s President for speaking out against animal cruelty by signing below.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. O’Conner,
Your recent decision to condemn the use of animals for entertainment at MiLB events is nothing short of praiseworthy. By speaking out against monkey rodeos, you are speaking out against animal abuse and exploitation for the sake of entertainment.
Like most animals used for entertainment, the capuchin monkeys currently used in MiLB-sanctioned rodeos suffer greatly. While being kept in cages and forced to perform unnatural behaviors, these intelligent creatures are denied their most basic right to freedom. I hope that your compassionate decision to speak out against this form of animal abuse will encourage other sports leagues to reconsider how they treat animals. Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Armando Mayez
Hurrah!