Ban animals in circuses?

[Red_John]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...d-manchester-12915365
I thought they already had. Surely no one finds all that animal stuff remotely amusing anyway!

[boxtops]

This was covered in some length in a post only a few days ago - huge indignation then about the treatement of the elephant.

[Red_John]

sorry, missed that.

[Buenchico]

The resident (Hippodrome) circus in Great Yarmouth took the decision to exclude animal acts many years ago but quickly had to reverse their decision as they found that they suffered a massive drop in audience figures. Which (regrettably) shows that not everyone shares your views, which also match mine, Red_John :-(

However I've just Googled the reviews for the Hippodrome Circus and I'm pleased to report that it now seems that there are no longer any animal acts in the show. So, perhaps at last, it seems that things are finally changing.

Incidentally, I'm always in two minds when I watch 'fly ball' competitions from Crufts. I've absolutely no doubt that the dogs really enjoy it but there are still reports of dogs suffering accidental injuries from the events.

Chris

[Red_John]

Well I find the whole dog show thing raving mad myself, they're not dogs they are projects for the owners to try and create "perfection".

[Red_John]

I did go to the circus as a boy when animals were involved but even then I was always hoping the animal would get the upper hand somehow. I remember the lion tamer sticking his head in the mouth of a lion with guys with guns standing there just in case. All the time I was thinking just bite his head off so we have the clowns on!

[Maydup]

Chris - I've been going each summer to the Hippodrome in Gt Y (for the last 10 years at least) and they haven't had animals in that time. Its a great show and has the unique water feature. If you haven't been recently give it a go this year, I promise you'll have the best of times.

And I agree Red_John, I thought animals had been banned from circuses years ago. If not then it should happened before the week is out.

[tamborine]

Its a horrible case for human emotions and I'd prefer all beasts left in their natural environments. In the wild an elephant would spare you no mercy in its own environment, so without a circus or zoo you may never see them. That's not to excuse outright unnecessary cruelty.

[Ric.ror]

We had a circus in the fields near me
They only have camels and ponies but they still had the animal rights lobby down there.
To me it was no different from horses kept in stables as the camels were left to graze in the fields when they werent appearing.

[anotheoldgit]

Let's go the full hog and ban all horse events also, ie Grand National etc.

How many circus animals have to be put-down at the end of their acts?

[Zeuhl]

Not many children need to be put down either after they've suffered abuse but we still think it's a bad thing and do everything we can to stop it.

[youngmafbog]

So you think the Horse events should be banned too then ?

[rov1100]

The next thing you know they;ll be banning the donkey rides at Western Super Mare.