Anonymous wrote:Those fines seem pretty small to me. Doesn't seem like it would act as much of a deterrent.

I'm sure they don't care about the money--just the bad publicity. That's the bigger issue here, I think. They'd probably be more than glad to pay a lot more in fines if it could be kept secret.

Anonymous wrote:the circus is awesome, and the crowd is packed with nothing but nice families. I'm guessing those outraged are the vocal but extreme minority.

But of course just because I like the circus doesn't mean that I think they need to do all they can to treat the animals in a humane way as possible. Just like zoos should do the same.

and really, the animals are a very small part of the circus experience. its is mostly entertainers - who I'm guessing are treated worse than the elephants but nobody seems to care about them!

Nice families that condone animal abuse - yeah, I'd label those families nice.

Anonymous wrote:So we shouldn;t train our kids the way we do? raising our voice, a slap on the wrist a swat on the bottom

Are your kids animals? Do they poo and pee on the floor

Anonymous wrote:the circus is awesome, and the crowd is packed with nothing but nice families. I'm guessing those outraged are the vocal but extreme minority.

But of course just because I like the circus doesn't mean that I think they need to do all they can to treat the animals in a humane way as possible. Just like zoos should do the same.

and really, the animals are a very small part of the circus experience. its is mostly entertainers - who I'm guessing are treated worse than the elephants but nobody seems to care about them!

Just wait until we find out how they train and treat the flying Zupani Family from Bulgaria -where will the people who hate the circus be then...Protect the Zupani family!!!!

the circus is awesome, and the crowd is packed with nothing but nice families. I'm guessing those outraged are the vocal but extreme minority.

But of course just because I like the circus doesn't mean that I think they need to do all they can to treat the animals in a humane way as possible. Just like zoos should do the same.

and really, the animals are a very small part of the circus experience. its is mostly entertainers - who I'm guessing are treated worse than the elephants but nobody seems to care about them!

Those fines seem pretty small to me. Doesn't seem like it would act as much of a deterrent.

Anonymous wrote:So we shouldn;t train our kids the way we do? raising our voice, a slap on the wrist a swat on the bottom

I agree completely. My kids are much more trained than my neighbors', and it sure ain't popular to say anymore, but the belt and switch work great.

So we shouldn;t train our kids the way we do? raising our voice, a slap on the wrist a swat on the bottom

Anonymous wrote:How else are they going to train the animals? Speak to them or perhaps use telepathy?

If it takes cruelty, that means to me it's not something we should be doing. In any case, there are other ways of training animals, though it takes more education and patience. Not something circus trainers have.

Anonymous wrote:You're obnoxious PP. How can you support something so vile?

People like to be entertained regardless of the suffering by the "entertainers". We're barbaric. Think about what the Romans filled amphitheaters to watch. I'd say it's pretty well known that these circuses are cruel but as long as their kids enjoy the time they spend in their seats, some people really don't care. Many of us do care and would not subsidize the systematic abuse of others, but obviously as long as they're profit in it, people will do it and there will be people willing to ignore it for a good show.

How else are they going to train the animals? Speak to them or perhaps use telepathy?

You're obnoxious PP. How can you support something so vile?

Darn, oh well I guess the price of tickets will go up this year but still GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see this. This group's treatment of animals is unacceptable.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/29/us/ringling-bros-fine/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Feld Entertainment Inc., which produces the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, has agreed to pay $270,000 for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act on several occasions from June 2007 to August 2011, according to a USDA news release.

The USDA can levy fines of up to $10,000 per violation of the act.

"This settlement sends a direct message to the public and to those who exhibit animals that USDA will take all necessary steps to protect animals regulated under the Animal Welfare Act," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release.

Feld Entertainment officials settled in lieu of a hearing and agreed to implement new training protocols for any circus employees who handle animals, the statement said.