Billie's Last Chain

When Billie arrived at the Sanctuary in 2006, she still had an ankle chain leftover from her circus life. Despite early and repeated efforts over the past 5 years -- Billie simply did not trust anyone to get close enough to remove her chain...until now! After many weeks of protected contact training techniques, Billie presented her foot and voluntarily allowed us to remove the chain off her front left leg. These are video highlights from this milestone event!

Read more about the process from her Caregiver, Richard, here: http://bit.ly/k1FMc9

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Billie
• Elephant
• Sanctuary
• Tennessee
• Chain
• Circus
• Protected
• Contact

[mjzapjr]

Whats with the masks? Was she sick? Afraid to get her sick?

[elephantsanctuarytn]

@mjzapjr Billie resides in the Phase 1 Yard where her friend Lizzie is undergoing treatment for TB. So all Caregivers in this area routinely wear Tyvek coveralls and masks for protection.

[ZeBeFruity]

@elephantsanctuarytn doesn't that make billie vulnerable to TB?

[elephantsanctuarytn]

@ZeBeFruity Elephants are only vulnerable to infection from TB if another elephant is actively shedding the bacteria. Liz is not shedding.

[hugwildlife]

Thats wonderful!!!!!! Good girl Billie, now you are completely liberated! Thanks people of the Sanctuary!!!!!!

[Bugalu67]

Way to go Billie Sue!!!!!

[kindlykritter]

What are those sticks that guy is using?

[thegh0ST505]

Great job u pple at the elephant sanctuary. Its u all dis kind soul that had given dis big buddies a second chance to live with pride n dignity, a second chance to be loved cared for, n mayb a final chance in their life to live freely towards their own nature. Big big thanks you all n hurray for billie, was touching to see him trust n lift his leg letting u cut that chain that had once brought misery n hurt to him.

[zigg99]

Yay!! I have been to the circus once when I was a little girl. It was a small town so getting to the back and seeing the animals was easy to do. It was also something I will never ever forget, and the very reason I chose not to go back to the circus again. Though the animals looked well cared for, it broke my heart to see the elephants chained up, and to see the tigers in cages so small they could not barely stand up or turn around. What you guys do with the Sanctuary is an amazing.

[neeraj2608]

For a moment, when she had the chain in her trunk, I thought she would put her foot over the other end and snap it in two. That would have been poetic justice for being chained all those years.

[louieiglesias]

tears and more tears. good for Billie! pass the treats!

[HaydenICM]

This was a big step for her. I shudder to think of what would happen to these lovely creatures if the ES wasn't around.

[cheyla38]

I can't stop watching this video. . . way to go Billie!

[Bugalu67]

That's my girl

[creativeforce11]

Brilliant - no animal should ever be chained - thanks for being caring and loving people.

[SoulBeat123]

THANK YOU for all you do ... tis a beautiful, heart warming thing .. love and blessings