The activist actress turned up in Albuquerque--scene of a recent circus-elephant tragedy--Tuesday to urge Agriculture Secretary Daniel Glickman to bemoan the mistreatment of circus creatures. She begged Glickman to strictly enforce existing animal-welfare laws and punish big-top types who violate them.
"These animals are kept in horrific conditions. They're dragged around cities suffering in the name of entertainment," said Basinger.
Three weeks ago, an African elephant named Heather was found dead inside a steamy, poorly ventilated trailer outside an Albuquerque hotel. She belonged to the King World Circus. Last week, a New Mexico judge stripped the traveling circus of custody of its two surviving pachyderms and eight llamas, placing the menagerie in a local park. Two circus handlers were charged with cruelty to animals.
Last month, the L.A. Confidential vixen tried to rescue 36 baby beagles headed to a New Jersey medical-testing lab. The pups were to have their legs broken in the name of science. In spite of Basinger's offer to fly the dogs to a safe haven where they could be adopted, the lab refused to give the pooches up.
Activism plays a big part in the Baldwin-Basinger brood. When not punching paparazzi, Basinger's hubby Alec lobbies for the NEA. Brother-in-law Danny has a pet project--he has campaigned to save the guy who first tried to save the whales, imprisoned Greenpeace co-founder Paul Watson. And the whole clan has stumped for Democratic politicians.