Definitely keep animals OUT OF THE CIRCUS! Wild animals do not belong in hot, non-ventilated boxcars, or chained 23 hours a day, beaten with bullhooks until they bleed, or caged in quarters so small they can barely turn around. It's pitiful and I have documented the result of those bullhook "guides" (what a joke) on tape, not to mention the hundreds of others as well.

They were just here in Dallas and even one of the security people witnessed a beating during the day when there was no show. They cover up the abcesses and boils with Wonder Dust, a grey powder that blends in with their skin. I caught one on tape they forgot to cover inside the thigh of one of the elehants, and numerous lumps and bumps that were covered on every single elephant. The tool of torture, the "extention of the trainer's arm" they claim (my arm doesn't have a hook at the end, does yours?) is a standard across the board practice to keep elephants terrified and submissive. Electric prods are also used with them, but they don't leave wounds. Their lives are miserable. Only 23 of the elephants Ringling uses were born in captivity (their "conservation" program); the rest were captured from the wild and torn from their families. I cannot imagine a more cruel life. Plus, many of the elephants have a human strain of TB, totally antibiotic resistant, that endangers anyone who comes into close contact with them, like children riding them, workers (one of them died as a result of it already) and the people at the "preshow". There are more sophisticated ways to be entertained than watching wild animals be reduced to cowering creatures performing stupid and demeaning "tricks".

I do not think it's right to use animals in the circus. What we require of them, what they must give up, is simply too much. It is inherently cruel, even without the beatings, bullhooks, electric prods, disease, and other stresses. When I was young, my parents took me to the circus. I watch human circus performers do amazing things, and I enjoy these elaborate, cruelty-free, and awe-inspiring performances every chance I get. These shows are so much more entertaining anyway! Seeing an elephant stand on a ramp does not compare to watching people do gravity-defying stunts or feats of amazing strength, and in beautiful costumes and makeup. I do not believe people need to see an elephant stand on a ramp anymore when they can see elephants on Planet Earth doing far more fantastic things. Maybe Ringling needs the animals because the humans lack any talent.

Gina says,

just because you 'think' youv seen a miss treated animal duznt mean it happens all the time to all animals in all the circus' a bullhook??? wot the hell?? iv never even hurd of onen iv been involved in ciruses all my life! you people need facts! id rather see animals in the circus than in the zoo!! and how many of you will actualy Go to a circus if it had no animals? and ok some of you say you have proof well prove it! because as i said before maby you have seen animals miss treated, ok well what can i say? all i know is if youv seen it ones it duznt mean youv seen it all.
!!!!!!!!!!!!KEEP ANIMALS IN THE CIRCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think animals should be part of circuses. Most circus animals are endangered species and deserve a better home.

I LOVE THE CIRCUS AND ALLL THE ANIMALs

I think that animals should be left alone in there natural habitat. It's just rong to take them out of there home. I mean, how would you feal if someone took you out of your home? I would feal realy, realy sad! I'm just saying that you should leave the animals ALONE! I mean it!

I will never take my kids to the circus. I know elephants were not made to stand on their heads. There is nothing natural nor cute about it, it simply looks ridiculous

I don't go to the circus now because of the animal cruelty I believe is happening. I would Definitely take the kids if there were NO animals.

no they sould not u r so crul and selfish!!!
u have a life let them. i dont no how u could it is so crul i can see you dont care thow
becouse u r 2 selfish and i would take my 8 children if ther was no animals

Man HAS THE ABILITY TO JUSTIFY HIS CRUELTY AT ALL TIMES AND ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES AND LABORATORIES IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. HOWEVER, DO NOT THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE A "WESTERN" CIVILIZATION WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO DO THIS. JUST CHECK OUT HOW ELEPHANTS ARE "'TRAINED "
IN SUCH PLACES AS BALI AND THAILAND. SEEMS WE ALL BELIEVE THAT ANIMALS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST AS LONG AS THEY SERVE SOME FUNCTION FOR HUMANS.
NO MORE ANIMAL ACTS OR ZOO PRISONS, ONLY LARGE ANIMAL SANCTUARIES AT MOST.

i think its great tht we can see all these wonderful creatures from all around the work and that we all can enjoy all of Gods creatures. yes they are not in there natural habatate but many zoo's are getting much better at how they keep there animals and are getting colser and colser to a more natural habitate for them

If animals do really get hurt in the circus i think there should be a ban for animals in circuses.

i think circus animals should be banned it is cruel and they are not raised by thereown parants and its horrible to see poor animals being hurt like that. The sad thing is circus animals live and sleep in small cages.

OMG!!!! Those ELEPHANT are so CUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^ . ^

i just watched some horrific videos of wild animals be beaten, wiped, verbally abused into doing, what these trianers want them to do. I've see the blood run on the concrete. The animals screaming in pain. Stand outside at the circus & fairs on short leaches shaking they're heads back and forth for hours. I cried, I cried so hard I had to stop watching for an hour. Then I researched this site. I need to know that these animal trainers are being punished for what they are doing. And if this is the only way, to train. Then it has to be stopped.
We wonder why animal in circuses attack, it because hey just can't take it anymore. And then they're shot...and put on the news as animals gone crazy...
What would you do if you knew these terrible things were going on. I think these people are cruel and alittle crazy to be able to do these horrific things to these animals. Lets clean house. Lets stop animal abuse...where ever it is, for the animals. Please, it just wrong.

Why do you do this it is just cruel. Its not like they get payed you just think it is ok to smash them with sticks. How would you like it if you were cramped in small cages and smashed with iron poles!

PLEASE THINK ABOU WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!!!!!!!

Ryan hehir

Unfortunately legal safeguards are not in place to protect animals in circuses. Although circuses and traveling shows must comply with the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the regulations are not specific or adequately enforced. Every major circus that uses animals has been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set forth in the Animal Welfare Act. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored obvious physical trauma to animals, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees who report mistreatment of elephants. In fact, the AWA does not prohibit the use of bullhooks.

Watching wild animals perform unnatural tricks does not teach our children respect or appreciation for animals. Circuses teach children that it's acceptable to exploit and mistreat animals for amusement.

Keep animals in the wild.