More than 100 Shriners International temples (chapters) in 40 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces will sponsor circuses in 2015.

Shrine Circus: no fun for animals. Shrine temples partner with circuses, such as the George Cardin Circus International, Tarzan Zerbini, Royal Hanneford Circus and Circus Hollywood, which have poor records of animal abuse and neglect. Circuses are on the road for weeks at a time. Elephants are kept chained in trucks. Tigers and bears are transported in barren, cramped cages. The brief performances may be the only time animals are allowed out of their cages or freed from their chains. Animals in the circus never get to act like animals in their natural habitat. Family bonds are broken and animal's natural behaviors are denied. Violent, physical abuse remains a common method of training and controlling elephants and other animals in the circus.

"Circus with a purpose"? Shriners International is a legally and financially separate organization from the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Circus patrons are misled into believing that proceeds from the circus benefit the hospitals. If you look closely, the small print on circus advertisements and tickets make it clear that proceeds help to maintain Shrine temples’ building, pay staff salaries and fund parties and other activities, and do not benefit the hospitals. (The best way to help the Shriners Hospitals for Children is to make a donation directly to the hospital.)

Shriners have been associated with circuses for a long time (some temples have held annual circuses for 50 or 60 years or more), but change is possible. Several Shrine temples have replaced long-running circuses with equally profitable alternatives. Shrine temples conduct a wide variety of non-animal fundraising activities, including golf tournaments, car shows, carnivals and family picnics, haunted houses, festival of trees (holiday event), music concerts, BBQ competitions, and all-star football games.

A struggling fraternity. The first Shriners temple was established in 1872. Today, Shriners International members are aging and the organization is losing thousands of members each year.

Shriners have taken steps to modernize (for example, in 2010 the organization changed its name from "The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America" to the simpler "Shriners International"). The fraternity needs to take additional steps to improve its image and attract new members. Help us encourage Shriners International to position the organization for the future, by rejecting cruel animal circuses. Please write to the Imperial Divan, the governing body of Shriners International.