Help put pressure on Commerford Zoo to #FreeMinnie

This summer the Commerford Zoo—a traveling circus based in Goshen, Connecticut that continues to imprison Minnie alone on their tiny farm—resumed exhibiting at fairs across the northeastern United States. We’ve been closely monitoring the zoo at each venue, keeping an eye out for Minnie (who hasn’t been seen in public for over three years) and any possible violations of federal and state laws. We know Minnie is still alive and imprisoned at the Commerford Zoo because the USDA recently inspected their property and noted her presence.

You can help Minnie by sending an email to the below listed fairs, asking them not to allow the Commerford Zoo to exhibit animals at their event. Speaking out to the fairs, which in turn puts pressure on the Commerford Zoo to do the right thing and release Minnie, is an important way you can continue to advocate for Minnie since the court system as well as local, state, and federal government entities have failed to protect and free her.

Below is a sample email. You can also comment on the various fairs’ Facebook and Instagram pages (linked below) and ask them not to allow the Commerford Zoo, which has been cited more than 50 times for Animal Welfare Act violations, to exhibit while they continue to imprison Minnie on their Goshen property.

Sample email

Please do not allow the Commerford Zoo, which has been cited more than 50 times for Animal Welfare Act violations, to exhibit at your fair. They forced two of their now deceased elephants to travel and give rides while ill and are currently holding Minnie, the sole surviving elephant in their custody, alone in a barren barn on their property. In 2021, National Geographic ran a feature story on how the zoo allowed elephants Beulah and Karen to suffer for years before they died. In 2019 Beulah collapsed and died while being exhibited at the Big E fair in Massachusetts. Please act in the best interest of the animals and your patrons and do not allow the Commerford Zoo to exhibit at your fair.

Commerford Zoo Traveling Exhibitions

Orange County Fair | Middleton, NY | July 14th – 31st | contact information: (845) 343-4826 | Facebook

Boonville Oneida County Fair | Boonville, NY | July 26th – 31st | contact information: boonvillefair@frontiernet.net | Facebook

Columbia County Fair | Chatham, NY | August 31st – September 5th | contact information: columbiafair@fairpoint.net | Facebook

Thank you for advocating for Minnie!

Courtney Fern is the NhRP’s Director of Government Relations and Campaigns.