Do you attend circuses that have performing animals?

Yes. What kind of circus doesn't have performing animals? A circus that sucks, that's what.

Okay. I just have to mention that I was briefly _in_ a small circus when I was small myself, and it had a few animals, and they were pretty much the trainers' family members.

No whips, nothing like that.

Small circus; nothing terribly exotic -- but there were plenty of dogs and horses. My early fear of dogs was assuaged a fair bit by the time I spent with those well-trained, well-treated, friendly pets.

I had previously encountered dogs with lousy masters; those are almost a different species. Really, even at five, the difference was clear.

I think a lot of the current 'Eek -- circuses with animals!' comes from old-style Russians prodding bears with electrified sticks and what-not. It would be quite counter-productive to abuse a dog or horse into making it do what you wanted to do, and I doubt anybody ever found Siegfried and Roy to be practitioners of animal cruelty.

Am anticipating the 'it's wrong for them to work for our entertainment' reply, but is it also wrong to have a working dog as a guide dog, then? A blanket 'no working animals' ridicules no end of progress made throughout human history.

No I do not attend circuses with performing animals. I am guessing that you believe that the use of animals in the circus is wrong. I am i safe to assume this?

No

• Since 1990 elephants in performance situations have caused 30 human deaths and over 100 injuries worldwide. Since 1990 captive big cats have been responsible for 75 human attacks, and about one-third resulted in fatal injuries. (Statistics compiled by API)

• Most circuses have long lists of non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, and many fail to meet minimal standards aimed at insuring public safety and animal welfare. (Fact sheets for every circus kept by the USDA and compiled by API)

• Wild animals in the circus lead unnatural lives of intense confinement, chaining up to 22 hours a day, performances on demand, and are often kept in check with the standard tools of the trade- bullhooks (a long rod with a sharp metal hook used on elephants to control or punish), whips, and shock collars for primates. Having no relief from this lifestyle, they become stressed and are prone to unpredictable and dangerous behavior. Most experts agree that when elephants rampage it is because they are angry. (Congressman Bill McCollum, Chairman, Subcommittee on Crime)

• What keeps an elephant under control lies in the elephant’s training. The training can be severe, using techniques that include prolonged hitting by the elephant trainer with clubs, stabbing with the point of the ankus (bullhook), electricity, electric prods, prolonged chaining, and food deprivation. This is what keeps the general public safe from the wild elephant. (Joel J. Parrott, DVM, Director, The Oakland Zoo)

• Circus animals are routinely kept in chains or small cages for up to 22 hours a day. If a Minnesota resident kept their dog or cat like wild animals in the circus are kept, they would be guilty of a felony under the MN Anti-Cruelty Statute, Ch. 343.

• Over 4500 Minneapolis residents support an ordinance allowing only animal free circuses to perform here. Hundreds of tourists and non-residents have also signed their support.

• There are 26 US cities that have prohibited wild animal circuses, and hundreds in Europe that have prohibited or severely restricted performing animal acts. Recently the country of Austria added its name to the growing list, and currently four US cities/states are considering the issue.

• Sears, Mastercard and Toys R Us have all dropped their sponsorships of animal circuses. Locally Roundy’s (Rainbow Foods), and Medtronic have dropped their sponsorships. Both the Lions Club International and Kiwanis International recommend their local chapters do not use wild animal acts as fundraisers.

• Right now there are three non-animal circuses available and interested in performing in Minneapolis. The Moscow State Circus, Circus Chimera, and Gregangelo and Velocity Circus all boast of awesomely skilled human daredevils, acrobats, clowns, and safe, humane family fun.

No. No circuses, zoos, aquariums etc.

for the same reasons that the others

stated. Also professor Tom Regan

from N.C. State educated me on the

horrible details.

To its credit the South Carolina legislature

banned all animal exhibit shows such as

circuses, seaworld etc.

No. I used to go, but the level of cruelty that goes behind the scenes (and yes, it really is there, and yes, it is the pervasive industry standard of treatment) cannot justify the end result, which is a laugh and some popcorn. Even if it weren't cruel, the presumption that animals are toys or something for us to look at and laugh at is insulting. They aren't toys.

Hmmm...yep, i could ought to trust you there. i ended going to the circus over 10 years in the past once I did a sprint study and found out the quite a few techniques used and the residing circumstances of the animals. A zoo of direction is distinctive, by way of fact those are correct to the protection of species, no longer tricks and so on.

Animals are not ours for entertainment!!

"The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards by a whipcracking trainer is primitive and medieval. It stems from the old idea that we are superior to other species and have the right to hold dominion over them."

—Dr. Desmond Morris, anthropologist, animal behaviorist, author

no way. i hate the idea of performing animals, i think that's cruel. i don't like zoos or public aquariums either, only animal sanctuaries because you don't have people standing there gawking at them all the time.

I have only been to the circus 2 times in my life. ONe time when I was a little girl and one time to take my little girl.