Use of Bullhooks Now Banned In Rhode Island - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!

To the state government of Rhode Island for enacting a ban on the use of bullhooks.

According to a recent news article, the state of Rhode Island has banned the use of bullhooks in circuses and traveling entertainment acts. A bullhook is a hand-held, metal staff with a steel curved blade on one end. These instruments have traditionally been used by circus staff for many years to prod, poke, and pull elephants into submission. Many cities, including Richmond, Virginia and Oakland, California to name a few, have banned the use of bullhooks in city limits, effectively expelling elephant acts from their cities. Laws like these were in fact, instrumental in influencing the circus giant Ringling Bros. to retire their elephants. However, Rhode Island is the first state to impose a state-wide ban on bullhooks’ use, bringing the country one step closer to making captive elephant acts a thing of the past. 

Take action: Residents of Rhode Island, contact your legislators, and thank them for supporting the state  ban.