Circus News
NYTEX in North Richland Hills hosts Shriners circus accused of cruelty
Elephant at Shriners Circus
The NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills is hosting a circus event that's been accused of animal cruelty: The Moslah Shrine Circus, which has faced criticism and protests from animal welfare organizations, will set up camp at the sports facility with a show that includes the use of aging elephants.
A release from PETA expresses concern regarding the use of 56-year-old elephant named Betty, who — despise being elderly and disabled — is still being forced to perform.
An elephant expert who recently examined the aging elephant noted that her trunk appears to be partially paralyzed, and that she struggled to bend her front legs because of chronic pain.
The circus, which runs from November 7-9, is anticipated to draw some protests.
NYTEX is owned by brothers Frank Trazzera and Salvatore Trazzera, who use the facility for appearances by their hockey team the Lone Star Brahmas. Neither brother responded to emails.
Shriners are a fraternal organization known for parades, red fez hats, and fund-raising ads on local TV stations. They present themselves as an organization whose circus events benefit children. But ticket sales aren’t charitable donations: The profits are used to maintain the club’s premises and fund its activities.
The leadership of the Moslah Shrine in Fort Worth includes Gary Mayben, Brett Boone, Royce Rose, Greg Bird, Damon Ing, Harry Hackbusch, and Gerald Ledbetter.
They work with the Royal Hanneford Circus which has a history of animal welfare concerns and citations for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Royal Hanneford Circus lost its license and no longer owns its own elephants, and instead now leases animals from other companies with poor animal welfare records, such as Carson & Barnes Circus.
Many Shrine circuses have stopped using animals such as the Moolah Shrine Circus in St. Louis, which curtailed the use of elephants in 2023 after 81 years.
