Ringling Brothers = Animal Abusers?

Footage has surfaced from an undercover PETA employee showing that Ringling Brothers' elephant trainers abuse the elephants, using bull hooks to beat the animals across the head, legs, and body.

PETA vice president Daphna Nachminovitch stated that the undercover agent "witnessed these elephants being beaten for no apparent reason."

Ringling Bros. have refrained from commenting saying they have yet to view the video, but it was stated that "PETA is an animal rights extremist group…We are very proud of our animal care, we are committed to the care of all our animals partly through our conservation programs at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation…We have 139 years of experience of working with Asian elephants." You be the judge.

Jon Gosselin accused of Animal abuse

As if Jon Gosselin did not already have enough allegations thrown at him, he has also recently been accused of animal cruelty. He made a comment talking about how his children interact with their family dogs saying "Those kids beat them up, climb on them, pull their tails, bite at them, drag them around and everything you can imagine not to do to an animal, they've done." This caused quite a stir among animal activists and the Berks County, PA Humane Society began to receive complaints.

All of this fuss prompted Gosselin to release a statement. "I'd like to set the record straight," he said. "We understand the responsibilities of being good dog owners. Whenever my kids are with Shoka and Nala, everyone is carefully supervised to ensure that no one – dog or child – is injured. Shoka and Nala are loyal companions who we consider members of our family. We would never do anything to hurt them, and treat them with the respect and love that they deserve." An executive director at the Berks County Humane Society also said that the Gosselin's dogs are registered and up to date on all vaccinations.

There you have it, Jon Gosselin does not abuse animals. The poor guy just can't seem to catch a break lately.

Rapper DMX arrested

Rapper DMX, 37, was arrested Friday on drug and animal cruelty charges, Arizona sheriff's deputies said.

The artist, whose real name is Earl Simmons, attempted to avoid arrest by barricading himself inside his Cave Creek, Ariz. home. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, he faces four felony drug possession charges and seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

A news release from the sheriff's office also said deputies were serving search warrants at the Scottsdale, Ariz. Mayo Clinic due to the belief the rapper was involved in fraud there.

The deputies reported that five pit bull mix puppies were seized from the rapper's home by an animal control unit. They will be taken to a jail and cared for by female inmates.

This is not the first time DMX was suspected of animal cruelty. In August, deputies responding to abuse reports raided his home and seized 12 dogs. Although no evidence of dogfighting was found, some of the dogs had not been fed or watered.

In addition, the sheriff's office found three dog carcasses on the property, one of which looked like it had been burned.

"A guy like this DMX character, with all his money and fame, has no excuse for not providing proper care for his animals," Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Friday.

The drug possession charges came after deputies served the search warrant at 3 a.m. Friday, finding drugs and weapons.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas said the case would be treated like any other alleged animal cruelty, despite DMX's celebrity status.

DMX has a history of legal problems. According to CNN affiliate KPHO, he was arrested on Wednesday for racing on a highway after speed cameras caught him driving 114 mph on a Phoenix-area freeway. The rapper was booked on charges of racing on a highway, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, two counts of endangerment and three counts of criminal speed.

In 1999, an animal cruelty charge was dismissed against the rapper after he accepted responsibility and recorded public service announcements for an animal rights group, CNN reported.

The raid in August came within the same week as former NFL football player Michael Vick pleaded guilty to bankrolling and running a Virginia dogfighting ring.

At the time, the rapper's lawyer said he had been on tour and arranged for a caretaker for his dogs. The lawyer alleged that while the caretaker fed and watered the dogs, he did not protect them from Arizona's summer heat. He also said DMX was upset about the treatment of his dogs, who have been featured in his music videos.