Eric Roberts Speaks Out About Animal Cruelty, ADI, His Squirrel Sanctuary [VIDEO EXCLUSIVE]

Eric Roberts has been busy. The hard-working actor can be found in movies and shows like The Dark Knight and Grey’s Anatomy, but off the screen, Roberts works just as hard for a noble cause – stopping animal cruelty.

In an exclusive discussion with uInterview, Roberts said about animals, “They always have had a place in my heart. Simple as that.”

Roberts has teamed up recently with Animal Defenders International to protect the rights of animals around the world. The group has been fighting to end the use of exotic animals during circus performances, something Roberts knows about personally.

“I was a circus boy. I went to the circus every year, it was a big deal,” said Roberts. “Then I became interested in the elephants: Where do they go? How do they live? How do they travel? And I just became aware of it.”

Not only has he teamed up with ADI, but Roberts has worked hard to end animal cruelty in nearly every way he can.

About 20 years ago, Roberts rescued a squirrel that he had found injured on his property. After taking the animal to the local ASPCA, he was asked if they could return the squirrel to Robert’s property once it had recovered – Robert’s big trees are a haven for squirrels.

“So what has happened is that we now have a squirrel sanctuary. We have all the squirrels without tails, without ears, without paws…So we have a bunch of pirate squirrels that live in our squirrel sanctuary,” Roberts said, laughing. “And I’m very proud of that.”

ADI FIGHTS TO END CRUELTY TO CIRCUS ANIMALS

ADI is in support of the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, a bill that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 28. The bill aims to end the use of exotic animals during circus performances in front of a live audience.

“You can be kind to animals and work with animals,” Roberts said on the recent closure of the Ringling Bros. Circus. “There’s a way to do it. There’s a way to do anything with kindness.”

TEAPSPA, the exotic animal bill, was first introduced by Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Ryan Costello (R-PA) and has support from a handful of celebrities including Bob Barker, Danny Boyle and Roberts. The bill is currently up for debate in committee.