“This circus says they treat their animals like family; anyone can come and see how happy their chimpanzees are, they have nothing to hide,” said the news reporter to me as I stood outside protesting yet another cruel circus visiting Toronto about 35 years ago.
It was my good fortune that Jane Goodall happened to be visiting Toronto for a speaking engagement at the same time. Better still, she agreed to visit the circus’ chimpanzees.
Susan Hargreaves is the founder of Animal Hero Kids. (courtesy, Susan Hargreaves)
Jane, with reporters in tow, appeared at the arena to see how well the circus treated their “family.”
I knew they kept the chimpanzees in what can only be described as blue locker-type cages in a trailer when they were not chained.
So it came as no surprise that Jane was not allowed to step behind the stage barriers. Every news media outlet covering the event proclaimed that Jane Goodall had been denied access to the chimps.
Gone was another chink in the armor of the performing animal trade.
The next day, Jane and I appeared on a local radio program. The host acted like I had given him a brick of solid gold by coordinating Jane Goodall as a radio co-guest spot.
Jane was an icon with a heart of solid gold who has left this earth much richer by her presence. All animals, two-legged or four, have lost a champion. Yet, we can still live by her kind-to-all, steadfast example.
She embodied compassion, and her quotes, books, films, sanctuaries and programs will continue to inspire others.
One quote that has inspired me: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Can you imagine the schedule she had, traveling the majority of the year to support the Jane Goodall Institute’s global lifesaving work? And yet, after that appearance in Toronto, Jane still took the time to send her favorite vegan recipe of cauliflower tacos to add to my “Veganza Animal Heroes” book and contributed a paragraph for the first volume of my other book, “Animal Hero Kids: Voices for the Voiceless.” She sent a photograph of herself as a teen with advice for young animal advocates.
Jane was also a judge for the Animal Hero Kids Awards and the Earth Day art contest I organized. She really believed in the mission of educating and empowering youth.
If we multiply all of her kindness a million times, we can only grasp at the impact Jane Goodall has made.
What better way to honor her than growing our own empathy, kindness and positive action for all animals (human animals, too) and the planet.
Be like Jane.
Susan Hargreaves is a 45-year animal activist and founder of Be an Animal Hero, a project of Animal Hero Kids and author of “Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless” and “Veganza Animal Heroes.” She resides in Palm Beach County.
