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Post: Did you know that the UK still has wild animals performing in circuses? by RSPCA
Circuses 12:44 p.m. | Fri 4 Jul 2008
Comments
paxton July 6, 2010 at 1:15 p.m.
Come on..we don't even need to discuss this anymore - JUST ACT. THe last government was close to a ban of wild animal circuses and the general election has slowed things down. But the politicians at Defra know (from their own report findings!) that 94% of people want this ban and the British Veterinary Association want it too. There's no reason for them to delay.
SO:
write to your MP saying you want this ban put through parliament asap.
Write to Jim Paice, the new minister at Defra (See Defra website) and tell him to speed up his staff.
RIng Defra and say you want the ban hurried up.
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19Shaz93 July 5, 2010 at 7:08 p.m.
Circuses, horrible places homes to nightmares! Are we humans not civilised yet? This is the 21st centuary after all!
Animal's suffering used for other's entertainment is wrong and an act against nature. Just because we are more intelligent than other species on this plant does not make us less barbaric.
Think of the things we do to them!
A farmer shoots a whole family of foxes because they are on his land. His excuse; the foxes population is increasing. And, he gets away with it.
A fox injures a child for it was hungry, young and naive with no other food. Human response; kill all the foxes, their dangerous, need hunting, destroy the monsters.
But, who are the real monsters?
A human gains a dog's utmost respect and loyalty and will do anything for it's owner. They take advantage of that bond and use it as a performer on the big screen but at the end of the day the dog gets to take of it's collar, a huge meal and the love from its owner.
A human buys a bear, shocks it and causes it suffering till it is weak and must do what is demanded. Through classical conditioning the bear has learnt that if it misbehaves it will suffer. The human takes advantage of this, dresses it up and takes it into a circus. It performs the tricks without having to suffer. At the end of the day it's locked in a tiny cage, little to no food and only a world of pain and darkness.
There's a difference between performing animals; they have to be treated fairly. Why does one ethical issue apply to a human but not an animal? Why is their no consent (ie the animal does the act willingly, not because it knows pain will follow the disappointment)? Why is its psychological and phisiological health not important?
Why can we not feed a circus animal for a week but not a human?
Why aren't its rights the same as ours?
And the main question. Why aren't all of God's creatures treated equally?
We are the dominions, we should be ensuring that there is a balance, not destroying it.
That's all I got to say right now.
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Puppy28 December 10, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.
I did not know that that sort of cruelty still happens!!!
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daisychain1 October 26, 2009 at 6:21 p.m.
Dolled up to look appealing and funny, chased around and forced to do tricks to keep the public entertained. Circuses with animals are the most vile and putrid things I could ever imagine! Wild animals deserve to be free and live, not be forced into a humorous lifestyle. Circuses can be great without animals – so why put them through the pain?
Daisychain1
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iloveanimals September 27, 2009 at 8:50 a.m.
Animals SHOULDN'T be performing in circuses! It's cruel how they frighten the animals to train them to do tricks and stuff. The circus trainers have no sense of how the animal must be feeling when that stick, whip or cruel hand hits them. I feel sorry for all the circus animals and wish I could free them all from their pain and suffering. The animals are performing against their will. Yet many people around only see them as entertainment.
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tattooedgirlie September 21, 2009 at 12:47 a.m.
PETA NEEDS YOU!!
Come participate in a fun, one-of-a-kind demonstration on Saturday, 3 October, to urge Selfridges to stop selling foie gras
To create foie gras - French for "fatty
liver" - up to 2 kgs of a mixture of grain, maize and fat is pumped into
the stomachs of ducks and geese through a pipe two or three times a day for
three weeks. As the birds' livers become diseased and expand to up to 10 times
their normal size, the animals become sick, and many are unable to move. The
pipes sometimes puncture the birds' throats, which may cause them to bleed to
death.
Foie gras production is banned in the UK and more
than a dozen other countries. More than 60 per cent of Britons believe that foie
gras sales should also be banned. Not one supermarket will sell foie gras in
the UK. Foie gras has also been pulled from the shelves of House of Fraser,
Prince Charles has banned it from Royal menus and the Pope has denounced it as
cruel.
We'd like to make this demonstration as
large and noticeable as possible. Won't you please join?
The demonstration will take place outside Selfridges at 400 Oxford Street at 11 am and last for 30 minutes. However, we will meet in a location close to (but not in front of) Selfridges at 9:45 am sharp to talk through the event.
Our goal is to get 100 compassionate people out for this eye-catching demonstration. Each participant will be given a duck mask to represent the ducks and geese who are used to make the fois gras sold at Selfridges. Some people will also hold signs, while others will distribute leaflets.
It's important that you please RSVP writing to RoseG@peta.org.uk with "Birdie" in the subject line of your e-mail. The meeting location, dress code, lyrics of the chant, instructions on the dance and other fun details will be sent (to people who RSVP) closer to the date of the demonstration.
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pawzdannii August 11, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.
its ridiculous that animals have to work they are bred to be free!!!!!
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Sasha1991 August 7, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.
I make a comment and you stoop as low as to calling me naive?
If there is that much money involved how are you going to get custody of all the animals to begin with.. and then.. where are they going to go? back to the wild? after years of being treated the way they are or without even learning the ways to be wild, they wont do that well. Especially since they were taken away from their parents at young ages.
Putting them somewhere is going to cost money too.
I understand you're point and its not easy to get things when greedy people are making "easy" money. But not everything has to be easy.
People dont go for it when they lose out, so negotiation is probably the best. People, even though its wrong, still need to see what they get out of the situation.
I strongly disagree with the way the animals are treated a lot of the time and if its possible for them to have good lives while those few people benefit then so be it. thats better then having them be abused.
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krymzon July 21, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
i only go to circuses without animal as i dont want anything to do with cruelty
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cafeaulait June 2, 2009 at 8:11 a.m.
sasha 1991, no it is not right to use animals in circuses or films. wild animals are not like dogs who have evolved along side humans for centuries and learn tricks easily. watching an animal perform is pitiful, they do not understand what they are doing, it's like having a joke on a disabled person who cannot understand. compromising with animal users does not work as too much money is involved.
are you really naive to think that people put animal welfare above millions of dollars. these animals need protection. the only way is total ban on animal use in entertainment.
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ArcheyTheGreat April 22, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.
That just shows how ignorant our nation is towards animals. By one a click of their fingers they could make it stop. So Why won't they?
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dorothy20 March 3, 2009 at 12:54 a.m.
Any animal that is forced to do tricks, is cruel. Wild animals need to be in their own enviroment. I was totally gobsmacked, when I saw on the news that they were using Elephants again in that circus, and they didn't look too happy locked in those cages, It's "OBSCENE"!
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#1 Doggy Lover February 28, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
ITS JUST SICK
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janey February 28, 2009 at 1:51 a.m.
I shall wite to MP I am disgusted never knew until todays article stating Circus in UK live elephants - I thought this was illegial, if not definately needs to be made as soon as possible - I cannot think of anything more unatural than a big brave lion being made to stand sit beg on a small barrel, nor an elephant that does tricks for ? not sure if trainned with food, whip( please no BS we don't) ? how they train these beautiful WILD animals to do such un natural behaviour - I FOR ONE ONLY EVER SAW A CIRCUS WITH LIVE ANIMALS IN 1970, AND WAS PHYSICALLY SICK, WHIP, TRICKS LOOKING INTO THE ELEPHANTS DEAD EYES.HAVE NOT TO THIS DAY BEEN TO CIRCUS AND BEG NO ONE DOES WITH LIVE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES THAT NEED TO BE FREE.......STOP THIS NOW
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Sasha1991 February 28, 2009 at 1:30 a.m.
I think zoos are fine, obviously the animals aren't in there natural habitat, but sometimes that is necessary in order to preserves the species. And zoos do try to imitate natural habitats to the best of their abilities im sure. Perhaps not all, but the good ones.
Also, when people go there, usually with children, or even if they don't, the public will most likely learns something about a species.
And when you interact with an animal you create a bond, somehow that animal makes a way to your heart and you love them. In this sense, the animal is like an embassador for the rest of the species. People begin to love them and therefore NOT harm them.
Zoos, I feel, are beneficial for the animals, even if its not direct.
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Sasha1991 February 28, 2009 at 1:12 a.m.
To Booshishea, Bonzodog said not all circuses are bad and if you had read correctly he said there are some with NO ANIMALS IN SIGHT. So instead of creating a hypothetical situation of their life, you should have read a little bit closer.
Also, I agree with you on the use of animals in films. BUT of course they are trained, so are house pets, and movies like homeward bound are to be honest, enjoyable. Watching a movie involving animals doesn't make you a horrible person though.
But then again we cannnot say every film producer will treat their animals like garbage.
I feel that alot of people here seem to notice only extreme situations.
Really if you want to get anything done both sides, the circus people, and the people against circuses, or vegans and meat lovers, movie makers and those opposed to animals use, both have to make compromises.
Of course in a perfect world, which will never exist, probably a fair share of people would never have an animal eatten or used. But that will NEVER be the case. And by trying to shove your ideology down people's throats isnt going to work.
I agree, there are animals in movies and circuses that are not treated fairly, especially circuses since they probably cannot afford to, and therefore shouldnt use the animal. But in condoning every movie and every circus that has ever used an animal is not going to change anything.
Anyways, I think someone, some organization or something, should create standards for all circus and movie producers and have them clearly defined and PUNISHABLE if not followed. For example, severe fines and the removal of the animals from their custody PLUS they get prohibited from using animals for a certain number of years for the first offense, and permanently for the next.
The mistreatment of an animals in circuses and movies should be treated in the same manner as animal abuse.
Its dreadful what SOME of these animals have to go through and it should be made that ALL animals live contently.
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Shrike_xX February 16, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.
WHY do we still have them performing in circuses? How does the animal rights act not put a stop to it? Loopholes maybe, I don't care pull your finger out RSPCA!
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giblet18 February 14, 2009 at 6:46 p.m.
i think it is horrible that people can get away with this. i think that people that do this should be cracked down on hard and fast.
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Naturegirl February 7, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.
It is really disgracful and unfair So I think that they should BAN wild animals in the circuses everywhere!! I would be humiliated if I had to perform silly tricks and laughed at.So shame on anyone who thinks its right to keep wild animals in the circus.
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Nicole09 January 30, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.
i hate the fact that animals are neglected in these situations and also the fact that they dont get treated with any respct. They dont have a voice to speack out and say how they really feel!! For my personal opinion they shouldnt be aloud to do this.
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Jimmy-Jen January 25, 2009 at 7:25 p.m.
I hate all the circuses! From the ones with ANY animal to the ones with none. They try to make fun of lions and get elephants to do bad tricks. It just makes them frightened and scared. Its cruel. I have only been to one when I was 4 and I never went to any again.
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VeganxChick January 21, 2009 at 9:01 a.m.
Animals were not put on this earth as 'entertainment' for humans. Circus' have no place in modern society - especially when animals are involved. A while back I read about this elephant who was 40 years old. The poor creature had spent at least 30 years of her life on 'the road' with the circus performers. She has arthritus and what she now needs is to be able to retire and live with other elephants. An animal sanctuary offered to do just that - however the circus lot refused. It is just unbelievable! this wonderful creature should be allowed to live her remaining years in comfort! NOT being chained up.
In circus' in China they make lions stand on the back of horses! for 'entertainment'. That is just warped. The Chinese only seem happy when they are torturing animals.
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#1 Doggy Lover January 14, 2009 at 6:35 p.m.
circuses are horrible!!!
i no this dosent happen in the uk but i saw a picture of a lion riding a horse in a circus in china!!!! how horrible!!
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diddldream January 1, 2009 at 6:46 p.m.
i hate the circuses that think that its ok to use animals as a circus act! There ok in a zoo cos they have anoth space, but ones in circuses are kept in thoose small boxes and the lions are used for jumping through fire rings and elephants people ride on and keep them in small places surly not big anoth to hold an elephant!
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tarka December 31, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.
People need to boycott all circuses that use any animals wild or not in their acts. The conditions these animals are kept in is disgusting and so is their treatment.
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Marnie-x December 29, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.
I personally don't like Circus's with or without animals. I have never been to one with animals in anyway and never wish to. I feel sorry for a animal in a Zoo but I know sometimes they are there for a reason so surley it is much more amazing acting nearer to normal than performing tricks. Instead of a animal jumping through a hoop of fire why couldn't a human do it on a bike instead? Would that not be more entertaining?
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Booshishea December 28, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT: READ ALL COMMENTS BY BOOSHISHEA. THEY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND TOOK AGES TO TYPE. REPEAT: READ ALL COMMENTS BY BOOSHISHEA IF YOU CARE ABOUT ANIMALS. IF YOU DIDN'T, YOU WOULDN'T BE ON THIS WEBSITE, WOULD YOU?
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Booshishea December 28, 2008 at 10:47 a.m.
Circuses are really bad- but does anyone ever consider films...? You probably all love films with animals in (who doesn't?)and the list of films with animals in is endless. You are probably thinking 'So, why is that a bad thing?'- let me tell you why! Films like 'Nims Island' and 'Homeward Bound' have animals in who play big parts- and they must be TRAINED!!! For instance, they train them to run across railways when trains coming and other dangerous things that are really cruel- and do you know where the animals start off? In the wild- until humans invade and capture them!!! Imagine if you were that animal- taken away from your family in the wild by strange creatures. You would be so distressed and petrified! After the torture of the film is over, they either put you in a zoo- or KILL YOU!!! I don't know if you've seen it, but in the Simpsons movie where Homer and Bart are in the burger place after Bart's skateboard dare and that Krusty clown whoever he is is shooting an advert for his new burger, and when it's over he just orders to kill the pig- THAT HAPPENS IN REAL LIFE TOO. You just sit in fron of your T.V. or are at the cinema saying 'Wahay, this film is great blah blah blah' without thinking about what really happens behind the scenes! THINK TWICE!!!
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Booshishea December 28, 2008 at 10:35 a.m.
Circuses are entertainment, and if you go somewhere to be entertained (like a circus) then you were bored before (if that makes sense...). Anyway, my Dad says that you can only be bored if you are boring- so people who go to circuses are boring- and a bunch of losers who dont care about animals!!!
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Booshishea December 28, 2008 at 10:31 a.m.
So, Bonzodog, if you think cicuses arn't that bad- HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE LOCKEDIN A CAGE ALL YOUR LIFE IN A PLACE WHERE IT WAS WAY COLDER THAN YOUR NATRUAL HABITAT AND WERE MADE TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS ON FIRE AND YOU WOULD BURN ALL YOUR SKIN OFF ON YOUR FIRST TRY SO YOU WOULD BE COLDER?!? AND I SUPPOSE YOU WOULDN'T MIND BEING YANKED AROUND BY YOUR NECK ON A ROPE AND BEING WHIPPED BY A STUPID MAN WEARING A TOP HAT?!? AND OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T MINE EATING THE MOULDY LEFTOVERS OF THE CIRCUS MASTER'S BACON HE HAD FOR BREAKFAST- THREE WEEKS AGO?!? OR WOULD YOU RATHER LIE IN ROTTEN STRAW AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF SLEEPING ON YOUR SOFT DOWNY BED WITH AS MANY BLANKETS AS YOU LIKE, HMMM?!? COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY AND THINK OF ANIMALS FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!!!
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Bonzodog December 26, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
fallenangel, not all circuses are bad. I've been to a few, and not an animal in sight. I hate cruelty to animals, and I would never go anywhere near anywhere that hurt animals.
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fallen angel55 December 20, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
I have never been to a circus and even if I had the chance i would never go to one. It is sick the way that the animals are treated and if it were legal, I would lock all those circus owners into small, dirty cages and see how they liked it!
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animal_saver December 16, 2008 at 8:15 a.m.
i do not live in the UK but my grandparents send me the magazines so i can't go to the circuses. but did you know that all over south east asia (this is where i live) they have ZOOs that have wild animals performing!
in the performances they talk about how the animals are endangered and i think 'then WHY do you make them perform when they should be in the wild!'
if i could could speak their language then i could tell them that if they were the animals how would they feel!
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Sophie. December 14, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
The fact that such a majority of human beings think it's ok to take wild animals from where they're meant to be, anscare them half to death making them perform tricks infront of crowds screaming and laughing!
How it can be legal i really don't know.
It really is disgusting.
Animals do not need to be used for our entertainment!!!!
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Jellie December 2, 2008 at 1:43 p.m.
I dont think that any animals should be in circuses unless they are cept in the best possible conditions such as big exercising space and time to themselves. they musnt be made to work 24/7 and have reasonable breaks.
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Rabbit crazy November 30, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.
I personally like circuses but I strongly disagree with wild animals in circuses.
Its just the thought of people keeping such lovely animals in a cage and making them perform in front of lots of people.
You don't need any wild animals (or any animals at all) to enjoy a circus.
My grandma used to tell me that when she was little that animals did perform in circuses, but not always.
Back in her day clowns and magicans were the main attraction and she said she really just didn't see the point of keeping an animal locked up just for people to laugh and look at.
I cannot believe that(wild)animals are still being used in todays circuses.
We really do need to stop this!
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snowyangel November 29, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
i have never been to a circus so i dont know what it's like to be sitting and watching some poor animal getting hit just to go through a hoop or something.
i think it is ok for there to be animals in circuses if they are treated kindly and with respect but i think if most circuses treat their animals badly then animals in circuses should be banned completly it is unfair and inhuman. how would the people beating the animals like it if they were in the animal's postion!
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katia12 November 29, 2008 at 10:18 a.m.
We all know that in most circuses, animals are treated badly. Even if you think, they wouldn't treat them badly if they want them to perfom well. It is a sandal. The animals are meant to be free creatures not locked up in cages even if they are being treated nicely. It is not the enviroment they should be in at all. The were not born into this world to jump through hoops and do balancing acts. It is WRONG. They were not born into this world to be in enclosures and kept away until performing. It is WRONG. If the animal is treated correctly it DOES NOT MATTER. They are not supposed to be in those conditions at all and never should have been
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Alika November 23, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.
I love UK and British people, because they love animals!
I came from RUSSIA and in almost every big town are circuses and zoos...I hate my own country for it, poor wild animals suffering, but what can I DO?! I am a Member of Born Free Organisation and I hope I will be able to help my country to fight with cruelty to wild animals!!!
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Tammeazile November 22, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.
Ive seen alot of circuses with wild animals in and it is quite amazing what they do but past all the entertainment these lions, tigers elephants and whatever else they use are wild animals, wild for a reason. Even if they were treated right i dont think it's right. These animals were born to be in the great plains of Africa or the jungles of Asia, not to be walked round a dirt arena and jump through hoops infront of a huge crowd in the middle of freezing England. Circuses are good enough without wild animals. I'[m sure there are other animals they could use, of corse in the right conditions. I don't see the point in treating them badly, their not going to play their best are they if they are treated like that.
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animallover57 November 20, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.
Using animals for entertainment is SO WRONG! Lots of people just see the Lion roaring or the elephant wearing a cutesy little hat prancing around a circle - but that is a horrid way of being entertained and it is MENTAL CRUELTY for the animals - every one of those animals is just crying out for help and we've got to give them it.
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animallover57 November 20, 2008 at 8:56 p.m.
I am shocked that animals are still performing in circuses in the U.K - the animals obviously don't enjoy the performances and the people running the circus should be in the animals shoes - all the noise, the whip on your back and the stupid tricks they force you to do are arrogant and stupid - the people running the circus should be ashamed - not even thinking about the animals, just the profits. I went to a circus when I was little and there was not one animal in sight! I remember it so vividly and it was wonderful because I was amazed by everything and I'm so very
grateful to that day because that is the reason I'm typing this now.
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lottiebottie007 November 18, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.
I hate circuses, I really do. I remember going to see one when I was younger, and they had lions there, I can't remember what it was called. I didn't know lions were meant to be wild, it just really made things feel exciting when the ringmaster cracked his whip and the lion roared at him. Only know I realise that this Lion was roaring out in pain and it was a cry for help.
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Genie November 14, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
Using animals for entertainment is wrong full stop.!!!!
I don't agree with anyone who finds it funny or cute to parade an animal around a ring or make it do tricks, It's like with lions, people whip them to get them aggrevated so that they get a reaction for entertainment value. OF COURSE THEY'RE GONNA REACT U JUST BLOODY WHIPPED THEM!!!!!!
Why do people do it?! it's cruel and disgusting!
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saffroncat November 13, 2008 at 7:59 p.m.
Circuses are bad places. The animals do not enjoy being in circuses. They actually hate it. Circuses are so violent towards animals and I think that everybody should take animals in circuses a lot more siriusly{ I do not know how to spell sirius}.
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saffroncat November 13, 2008 at 7:38 p.m.
Animal mad stop swearing!!!!
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saffroncat November 13, 2008 at 7:37 p.m.
Circuses are evil places!!!!!!!! I say that the only circuses around should be the one's with the circuse managers performing stunts while having the poor animals wathching him!!!!!!
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animalmad November 11, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.
All i know is they should NOT keep animals locked up in cages for there one personal gain just to earn a BLUDDY living!!!!
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eddlol November 11, 2008 at 8:18 a.m.
its horrible and mean that people do these just for money.the animals go through all the unnecessary stress. wild animals should be in the wild where they belong.
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Tabetsey November 5, 2008 at 10:46 a.m.
Yes I am aware of that. Circuses are old hat and should be outlawed. I agree with the comments about Cirque du Soleil. I also saw Spirit of the Horse and the horses were all in excellent condition and I certainly saw no evidence of them being harmed or kept in unsanitary conditions - it I had, I would have contacted somebody to report it.
I have written to my MP about this and am awaiting a response.
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CoNnIe November 1, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.
no i dont think that animals should be in circuses they get hurt tortched and some die just like lilia said cirque du soleli was amazing not an animal in sight well they should do lots of circuses like that they are amazing and theres no animals
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SOFA November 1, 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
Yes, it is ridiculous for animals to still be part of circuses! This week, I was involved in a demo at the Bobby Roberts circus.... We managed to hand out quite a few leaflets but it was really upsetting to see so many people attending... The main comments are 'the animals look well', 'they have lovely clean stabling' 'as long as they are looked after well, it's fine'...
Typical comments from people who just don't look any further than the ends of their noses. One question that always comes to mind is why don't circuses allow people to view their training methods? They will allow visitors to 'rehearsals' but I have never heard of people being allowed to watch the actual training methods! Also, how can anyone get pleasure out of watching poor sad animals doing degrading tricks for their entertainment?
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beeonca October 13, 2008 at 6:44 a.m.
I actully did an essay on circus elepahnts at school
how dare someone to such a thing, to such a inocent harmless thing.
it shoudl be banned.
people who can watch an elepahnt prefrom tricks... that discusting
i wish all the elepahnts would kill there trainers and run back into the wild
xxx
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animal-grl October 12, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.
yes i did know, n i think its disgraceful. i cant believe how people can go watch wild animals playing at something that dumbs them down to become a piece of trash they kick bout in their pens. i've seen adverts of circuses on lamposts and i once tried to rip them down.
i no your not supposed to but they maade me so angry. wild animals are wild for a reason. they have no humans trespassing into there normal lifestyle. e.g: LIONS, africa is there home, they hunt they rest, they have their own recreation. but soon enough comes a lorry to take the top leader, now what does the family do?? they wont survive with a leader. another egxample. ZEBRAS, stay in groups, so how do humans take them in, they surround a group then steal some.
-It takes cruelty to know what some one can do to you if you dont get something right.
-The tricks they know aren't ewducational but teach youngsters they can whip their cats.
help stop animal abuse n keep wild animals wild
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xspiritwalkerx September 28, 2008 at 2:33 p.m.
I agree with lillia, Cirque du Soleil is one of the best circuses around, no animals just people with talent!
I would not have a problem with animals in circuses if they were treated,housed,trained and fed properly, But they aren't so I do
I was watching Lion Man and they rescued 3 fully grown lions from your average old circus vehicle, they werent even alloowed to be together the crate was split into 3 parts
I saw "The Spirit Of the Horse" a couple of years ago with some friends, beutiful horses, beutifully trained and afterwards you go to see where the animals lived, in a portable stable yes, but it was huge!! all the horse had there own proper stable, with hay food water and they looked happy
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whippet September 27, 2008 at 10:32 p.m.
In response to Mags53- I certainly do not think that it is OK for animals to be wiped of the face of the Earth by Humans, and I certainly do not believe the only way to preserve a species is through captive breeding programmes. In fact I think the exact opposite. I do think that a better understanding of eco-systems and an appreciation of our place in nature would help a great deal. If we understood that we too are animals who depend heavily on the other species that co-exist with us, then maybe these creatures would not be going extinct at such an alarming rate. But...if a species is on the extinction threshold, is it not better to let that creature go to extinction with dignity rather than to preserve it for our moral justification. The moral of this story is that prevention is better than cure. Lets try to prevent it happening in the first place.
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Mags53 September 26, 2008 at 6:34 a.m.
Response to Whippet - yes, dogs did decided to live with us way back in the mists of time the ancestors of the dogs we have now and our ancestors had a mutually beneficial relationship. And, I don't like zoos either BUT these animal species are often becoming extinct because of human activity in their native land and I'm afraid that I believe that we owe it to them to try to stop that, and currently the only way of that happening is for us to run captive breeding programmes, and the only way to fund that in this world is to charge people to come and gawp at them. I'm an animal lover and I believe that we should do whatever we can to help these animals survive inhuman and inhumane treatment in their native land. And, I think that our government should make it illegal to use animals in circuses to do tricks, not just wild species. Although dogs willingly perform tricks for us (especially for a tatsy treat!) those used in the circus are NOT kept as someone's pet and are often not treated kindly. So whippet - you can think that it's ok for animals to be wiped off the face of the earth by humans if you wish but I shall never agree with you.
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Georgia September 21, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.
I agree whippet
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Georgia September 21, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.
I love circuses are great with out animals if i was the queen i would dermand to let all the circus aimals go free
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whippet September 20, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.
In response to your comments again Mags53, dogs do not have the choice to live with us or not, it is not their choice, they are more than likely purchased from a local paper, although they do enjoy human contact. Zoos are prisons for animals. If an animal is endangered or "does not enjoy human contact" is it not better to let that species go extinct with a degree of dignity than to preserve them for a way of "letting children develop a rapport with these beautiful animals" Come on, animals are not there for our amusement.
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whippet September 20, 2008 at 9:47 p.m.
The best place to see any animal is in its natural surroundings. Any one that makes a financial gain or exploits animals in any way should be outlawed. Animals also have rights. Lets give them a voice as well.
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Mags53 September 20, 2008 at 2:22 p.m.
I always objected to the PG tips adverts where they made chimps be like people - how utterly degrading for a fine species. Dogs enjoy being trained to do things, like hunting for us, or sitting, etc., but the they chose to live with us, cats choose to live with us and they enjoy human contact - but any animal that has to be constantly restrained because it poses a threat to human safety is not choosing to live with our species and should never be used by us in any capacity. The only place for an animal species who does not enjoy human contact is either in the wild or in a decent zoo/safari park, especially if they are endangered and are part of a breeding programme (oops, back to the KC/pedigree dog argument) to save their species. And, even then I only approve of zoos, etc. because they are a good way of letting children develop a rapport with these beautiful animals so that when they are in charge of this world they love and respect animals
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dogwalker04 September 19, 2008 at 2:11 a.m.
Cicuses..??
STILL?
Wild animals performing??
Sounds like something from the Dark Ages!
I though that this had been banned years ago..?
Shows you how out of touch I am!
I would NEVER go to a circus where animals are performing, wild or otherwise..
If people would STOP going to see these circuses etc then they wouldn't have the incentive to buy the animals!
It's a matter of supply and demand... if we DON'T demand it they WON'T supply it!
I also don't like the places where they have killer wales, dolphins etc doing shows...
These beautiful animals should be out in the open oceans and not cooped up in the equivalant of a pond.. No tank is ever big enough!
Also elephants should no longer be made to perform..
These are highly intelligent animals and are made to do shows that if we were asked or told to do them we would tell them to...
Well you get the gist of what I would say..LOL!
Why does man think he has a right to do the things that he does to animals??
We exploit and kill for meat and so called sport. Trap, poison animals that are in our houses, crops shops etc..
Cull badgers that are supposedly giving cows TB (which we consume milk from who are artifically inseminated to keep milk supply up.. no calf no milk)and no evdece is given and a lot are saying its the other way round but who will protect the badgers??
The list is endless and looks like it will grow as we find new ways to use animals.
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Mags53 September 18, 2008 at 10:36 p.m.
Let me just say before I start this post - I would never go to a circus that has animals on the bill and NEVER took my children to such a circus - and we went often to watch the humans perform :)
The issue with this isn't so much about getting animals to perform, some do so happily and willingly THE BIG ISSUE is the way in which these circus animals are kept, in cages and carted around here there and everywhere - if we went to a zoo these days and saw a lion, etc. in a cage (like Victorian zoos!) we'd be appalled, the RSPCA would do something AS SHOULD your MP. Don't just write to your MP - if you want direct action next time they're holding a surgery, go along and ask them face-to-face, go armed with facts (and photos if you can), ask them in front of other people and the ultimate for your conscience, vote for someone else next time you are able to vote (sorry to the under 18's here).
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sammyvanstaden September 15, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
Animals should not be made to entertain us - it's as simple as that. Its imprisonment and it's cruel. Its like something out of medeivel times.
If you want to see animals get a pet or spend money to see them in the wild. Or go to a place such as Woburn Safari Park (they breed rare animals there to get the numbers up and once a keeper actually died trying to stop two male stags killing each other) or somewhere similar.
Making animals perform is just not right.
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Eleanor September 13, 2008 at 11:56 a.m.
I despair at some circuses. With all the other forms of 'entertainment' available to us today, I simply do not understand why animals are being used in the performances. It's such a shame-these animals should be in the wild, not dancing around in front of us. It's just so unnatural. We will never know the full extent to which animals are mistreated in circuses, but it is becoming strikingly obvious that more and more animals are becoming emprisoned and paraded around for our so called 'entertainment'. I have never been to a circus, and never plan to either.
I recently adopted a Tiger from the Born Free foundation, she was rescued from a circus and was in a very bad way. I can only hope that more animals like the tigress I have adopted are saved from this sad existence and are set free into their rightful place in the wild.
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WolfGirl September 9, 2008 at 3:27 p.m.
It's cruel to make animals perform for the entertainment of humans. If we put our selfs in the animals shoes,we wouln't like being made to perform. I'm sure circus's will be great without animals.
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Hello September 8, 2008 at 8:11 p.m.
Its horrible that people are watching animals being treated badly. And those people pay to watch them. Circuses are brilliant, without animals.
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lil_los@hotmail.co.uk August 31, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.
animals, wild animals. yeh because that isnt just CRUEL, omg, why??? why, why, why, why? that is a question that cannot be answered no matter how hard you try. animals are not for watching, they are to keep this world going in the correct way e.g. food chains. nature was not intended for human fun. i cant believe this was ever invented, the animals do not know what they are doing all they no is that if they do not obey then they are punished. i watch all the animal programmes on tv, and the things i have found about things like this just make me so angry. just stop it!!! and u can tell animals were not meant for this as their natural instinct kicks in and they run riot like a 5 tonne elephant. come on think about it, cruelty to animals and dangerous to the public, get a grip, its just not right!
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cuthy93 August 23, 2008 at 10:48 a.m.
I think it's disgusting how people can enjoy watching animals such as bears and tigers get made to do stupid circus tricks.
I don't understand, these people don't seem to have any conciounce at all and they don't realise that these animals don't deserve to be treated like that.
the circus owners who do this are more barbaric than the wild animals they train to be like this.
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leekalot12 August 14, 2008 at 7:03 a.m.
I'm in france at the moment and just down the road there is a circus on at the moment. when we drive past it it really makes me feel sorry for these animals. they have lions, hippos, tigers, horses and camels. All of them are squished up in little cages in the boiling heat of the day (about 36 degrees). then just down a couple of roads there is another circus which has even more cramped conditions.
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lucy August 13, 2008 at 8:52 p.m.
making animals work for people so they can get there money and animals just get put through stress and get so sadly treated i feel so empty when you hear things like this and people drain biol from bears.animals are born to be free not locked up and used for money this has to be stopped people need to realise that animals need us to help not to treat them badly they deserve to be happy
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Lunarpenguin August 3, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
The only time I have ever seen a performing animal was at an agricultural show, where two people performed gymnastics on a horse that was riding around a ring. It was obviously well cared for, if anything seemed to enjoy the work it was doing, and was clearly loved by the performers. I think that if a domesticated animal is well cared for and enjoys what is does, there can be no objection.
However, I strongly disagree with wild animals being used in any kind of circus, and there should obviously be strict regulations and measures in place if domesticated animals are used. It seems incredibly cruel ro remove a wild animal from its habitat and force it to do tricks for our entertainment in what is invariably a threatening environment. I could not believe it when I realised that wild animals were still performing in UK circuses.
I would also like to add that the few circuses I have been to were absolutely amazing and they did not involve any animals.
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Julia August 1, 2008 at 11 p.m.
It's barbaric. If people didn't go to these awful circuses then they would eventually come to an end. I don't understand how people can regard them as entertainment.
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pluto10 July 31, 2008 at 3:07 p.m.
after not having much luck with my mp the born free website says about emailing the Secretary of State for the Environment, hopefully i'll get a better response hope we can stop this disgusting dated practice.
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shailaja4u July 29, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.
i love all animals and i wish every living thing lives the way they are supposed to. circus? i left them when i was 8 cause i hate to see any living thing in captivity and perform for a human pleasure. i feel most of the humans are sick in the brain cause they think not more than their own pleasures. but what pleasure can you get dominating another creature - that too helpless?
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animal-lover July 29, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.
to pluto10
i think that we should get all animals out of circuses and not just wild ones. Animals should have a stabel life where they life in the same place constantly, instead of moving around the country performing to people.
It can also be dangerous to people to have the animals in a circus as the animals could loose control and could hurt people. i saw a documentary once where an elephant got angry in a circus in amrica with a family onits back. it destroyed the tent and started charging at the audience which were fleeing the grounds.
The elephant was then shot.
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animal-lover July 28, 2008 at 11:42 a.m.
to pluto10
i think that we should get all animals out of circuses and not just wild ones. Animals should have a stabel life where they life in the same place constantly, instead of moving around the country performing to people.
It can also be dangerous to people to have the animals in a circus as the animals could loose control and could hurt people. i saw a documentary once where an elephant got angry in a circus in amrica with a family onits back. it destroyed the tent and started charging at the audience which were fleeing the grounds.
The elephant was then shot.
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pluto10 July 24, 2008 at 7:54 p.m.
i sent an email to my local mp and she said she would not sign the EDM 965 as "i do not believe a blanket ban of ALL animals in circuses is necessarily the way forward".
i thought it was about getting wild animals out of the circuses. can anybody tell me if it was for a total ban or for the wild animals only, if my mp got her facts wrong i will e maill her again to try and get her to change her mind.
i do think all animals should be taken out of the circus but getting wild ones out first would be a start!
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sk.ordish@ntlworld.com July 24, 2008 at 1:09 p.m.
I was going to take my whole family to see a circus in Epsom the other week until I looked on the net and saw they had all these animals performing. Why is the uk still allowing this to happen here????? Disgusting, makes my blood boil and my stomach turn!
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metal_monster July 23, 2008 at 11:43 p.m.
hey. Grace i wrote to my MP.
and believe it or not he sent me a letter back.
keep trying and maybe get a petition going?
hes got to listen.
it really will make you feel as if youve done something
worthwhile.
im 15 years old, unfortunately (!) and if he can listen to me, he will to you!
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Jaffa July 23, 2008 at 1:09 p.m.
I love all animals. I think it is so cruel that the animals have to suffer in a circus. Especially seeing horses in a circus as i love horses. I don't like how they whip them you can see that they are scared. It makes me feel sick seeing animals being treated this way.
I wish it could be stopped so these animals can have a better life.
xoxo
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mikki July 23, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.
I love tigers, and wild animals, and to know there been in circuses it really makes me feel sick. I am just so angry because i know that the animals wouldnt be treated right. If there was some way to stop them than I would be doing it asap.
xoxo
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Gemma... (((<3))) July 22, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.
And people PAY to see that?!
Its disgusting.
D:
I know some circuses do treat their animals well, but some is not enough! It should be all!
The animals are taken out of their habitats/captive bred, and these are animals rights violations. I bet we wouldnt like it if we were shoved into little cages and forced to jump through hoops. >:[
andd...
Hey, grace, you're actually writing your mp? wowee :O! I mean that in a good way ;) I didnt think of that, we should all do that. Bet if they were all swamped with letters theyd listen to us >:)
It's just so wrong that he (your MP)
can think this is fine D:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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RSPCA July 21, 2008 at 8:24 a.m.
Hi Grace.Garner
It's fine to write to your MP again. You may want to refer to the RSPCA's circus campaign area on our main website for some more facts and figures to include in your letter. Alternatively you could send your MP an email via our website.
http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=circuses
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paul July 18, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.
i do not go to the circus with my family as it disgusts me the way they treat animals , if more people did not go the circus involving animals they would dissappear , and about time i say ! i thought we was supposed to be living a in a civilised world .
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Grace.Garner July 16, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
Hi im looking for some advice, i emailed my MP about banning animals from the circus but said he doesnt beleive it is nessecary to ban aminals as long as they welfare needs are met, i totally disagree. how can i put more pressure on him to change him ming without getting my self in trouble for harassment? lol
Thanx Grace xx
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magentadivine July 14, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
Wild animals are taken away from their habitat (or are captive bred) to perform in circuses. Both are animal rights violations.
2. Wild animals cannot learn unnatural tricks except by violent means.
3. Wild animals have the right not to be held captive, and do not volunteer to perform in circuses.
4. Wild animals have to travel long distances confined in small spaces just to make money for the circus owner.
5. Wild animals are practically slaves.
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metal_monster July 14, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
i find it disgusting how as human beings people must pay to see this. i really dont understand how it still goes on as, like any normal human being, if i saw anyone parading a bear around on a rope forcing it to dance i would shove the hook up the nose of the perpertrator and make HIM try and dance to a tune whilst being yanked right, left and center. its abominal and its human beings doing this. why are people so unbelieveably selfish?
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Mistie July 14, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.
I am deeply saddened by this although not surprised. As a species humans seem to believe that opposable thumbs and the ability to stand upright enable us to use, humiliate and torture other species for our own amusement. Why not, instead of going to see a bear dance or any other animal be forced to behave in a way that is not only highly unnatural to them but also causing them suffering and stress, go to see a show involving humans who have chosen to enter into an entertainment career. Animals neither choose nor enjoy entertaining humans and should not be forced to do so. Please do not support these barbaric displays or apparent human supremacy. we are not supreme and we do not have the right to treat other species with anything other than respect.
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ferretman4 July 14, 2008 at 1:39 p.m.
A circus is a circus in forign contrys this is dam right outrage makinh a bear dance to a tamberine is dam right awful. In this country if the circuses who do have wild performing animals their is an all ternative. If the circus wasnt a traveling one their could be paddocks and cages making vast amount of space for them to act as nattrally as possible I would have no objection. What i do object to is forceing an animal to do something unatural. If they are cared for in the right manner and not forced to do anything i have no problem but with a travelin circus that is no life for elephant of tiger.
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oldactivist July 14, 2008 at 9:29 a.m.
No mention of the CAMEL dragged around by Bobby Roberts in the RSPCA list. Doing an info stall recently clearly showed that the public thought animal circuses were a thing of the past. More media exposure obviously needed. A few sad older onlookers asked what was wrong with animal circuses as they'd loved them when they were kids. I quickly answered that I too had been taken to the circus when I was young but that I'd grown up now! It's still very important to do a PEACEFUL demonstration every time the circus comes to your vicinity. Just go on the circus websites to find their imminent venues and rally a few mates. Greet the customers and give them leaflets. Tell local media what you're doing. The circuses hate this. We're a real thorn in their side.
Unfortunately of the six demos I've done recently with animal rights people only one RSPCA member joined us. The RSPCA has good leaflets so get them out there.
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Jan July 13, 2008 at 3:12 p.m.
If people didn't go to the circus then they wouldn't be able to exist. What sort of people need to go to this type of entertainment (if that's what you can call it!). I wonder if a lot of the audience consists of people from other countries who don't in the main have the same kind of compassion for the welfare of animals as ourselves (although I say this with tongue in cheek considering the amount of animal cruelty in this country!).
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aquababe66 July 12, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
i think its really horrible what they do to the animals in circus it needs to be stopped NOW
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angel July 12, 2008 at 12:18 a.m.
a circus can go on and be funny etc and make money without animals suffering!!! it needs to be stopped and these laws that say its ok need a battering!!!
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iluvpepsipig July 11, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.
This is horrible, it should be stopped. Animals are just as important as us, the only difference is that they dont have a voice and cant say how they feel. Its up to us to stop this, we started it!
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lilly July 11, 2008 at 4:13 p.m.
were ever there is money to be made regarding animals i think we will find this sort of cruelty and to stamp it out people do need to be made aware of the suffering and neglect that goes on behind close doors
there also needs to be tougher laws in this country regarding animal welfare ,more publicity infact the list is endless regarding animal welfare
it is dissgusting though
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kerluvsanimals July 11, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
I think that this is sooo bad!! I mean hello we are in 2008. Why are these poor animals still suffering, I think some people are just oblivios to this and that what gos on behind the scenes should be put in the spotlight because i think if everyone knew what went on theres no way theyd watch it!!
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animallover July 10, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.
I thought animals in circuses had been banned - was very surprised to see a poster advertising a circus with animals in it recently. I don't think animals should be used in circuses at all.
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Rae Rae July 9, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
It's been so long since I've been to a circus I didn't realise. I just avoid them at all costs because of the animal welfare issues.
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Laurad July 7, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
Yeah what about horses? Do they like running round in circles being whipped by someone in a spangly leotard?
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Clogs July 7, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.
What about non-wild animals? don't they have a hard time too???
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MindaMoo July 4, 2008 at 3 p.m.
I think it's crazy that there's still wild animals in circuses in this Country - there's absolutely no need for it. There are plenty of decent non animal circuses out there! xx
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Lilia July 4, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
It's ridiculous that wild animals are still performing in circuses in the UK - or anywhere for that matter! I've been to see Cirque du Soleil and it was amazing - and not an animal in sight.
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