From Kristin Parra

Dear Honorable Clark Chapin- I am writing this letter to you to please ask you to vote against HB 6599. This amendment in the law is not to provide minimum standards of care for captive elephants but instead to prevent circuses, fairs, petting zoos or other entities with elephants from being able to tour in the state of CT. By banning the tools used to train and handle elephants it would ban the use of elephants in Connecticut. The use of these guides or "bullhooks" is a humane way to manage elephants. This guide tool is equivalent to the use of rains on a horse, a leash on a dog or a stick used to show cattle. This tool is accepted by the United States Department of Agriculture as a proven tool to be able to handle elephants. If this law was to go into effect you would be preventing the children and adults of Connecticut to see elephants up close in person, and what better way to fully learn to love and help protect these animals than seeing them in person. This bi Thank you for your time and attention concerning this matter. Sincerely, Kristin Parra Director, OABA (Outdoor Amusement Business Association)