Abby Robinson-Source 1

Research Question: "How would the entertainment business be affected by improved animal rights?"
Source: Pickler, Nedra. "Activists, Circus Square Off Over Use of Elephants." Buffalo Law Journal 9 Feb. 2009: 4. Print. Database: Ebsco Host Date Accessed: 1 October 2015

• Summarize: In this article, a lawsuit between Ringling Bros. and animal activist groups is discussed. Animal rights groups accused Ringling Bros. of mistreating their circus elephants, going on to say the use of bullhooks is animal abuse. They also feel the large amount of time spent traveling across the country is harmful to the elephants. On the opposing side, Feld Entertainment Company (which owns Ringling Bros.) claims the tools are used for the safety of the animals, and the circus "would be nothing without their elephants". The company's lawyer went on to explain how the use of the bullhook would not cause harm to the elephants, due to their large size and tough skin. He also explained how the breeding of Asian elephants in the circus is beneficial to their repopulating rather than adding to the danger of them becoming extinct. 
• Think: This source causes me to want to see an improvement in animal rights in America. I feel that there are not strong enough laws set in place in America currently to protect animals. This article has caused me to begin thinking about how specific areas of american life would be affected by improved animal rights, and how the entertainment business especially would benefit. I agree with this source where it discusses how the use of bullhooks can be seen as animal abuse because it causes harm to the animal. But I disagree with the article when Feld Entertainment Company's lawyer tries to explain why the use of these hooks is NOT dangerous to the elephants.This article leads me to an answer for this research question. It leads me to believe that the entertainment business could be negatively affected if there are stricter animal rights laws put into place because it could limit the types of animals that can be used, as well as what they are allowed to do. Specifically in this situation, if laws were established that completely banned the use of elephants in the circus, it would completely alter the logistics of a circus experience. What would shed light on the information in this source, would be researching further into the law suit between animal activist groups and the Feld Entertainment Company. It would benefit me to find videos of the Ringling Bros. circus using bullhooks with the elephants to understand their purpose. 
• Question and Plan: This source has lead me to ask the following questions: what laws need to be established on the use of endangered species? Is a company breeding an endangered species dangerous? what kind of living conditions are animals in the entertainment business put in? does being in the entertainment business at all harmful to the animals? The right questions to be asking, are questions that further answer the question of the impact the entertainment business has an animal physically and mentally, as well as the kind of care these animals are receiving. My research should begin moving in the direction of studying how limitations on using animals in the entertainment business would begin to impact other areas besides the circus.