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Circus animal ban ringed by council

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Published Date: 03 July 2008
CIRCUSES that use wild animals have been banned from land owned by a local council.
Animal rights groups have praised East Ayrshire Council's move, saying methods to train animals, such as constant travelling and inadequate housing, raise welfare concerns.


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  • Last Updated: 02 July 2008 10:04 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 03/07/2008 01:55:33
Good, there should be more of it.
2

Snuffy Ivy,

Aberdeen UK 03/07/2008 02:08:40
The days of this brutality should be well and truly over.
3

tomi,

03/07/2008 06:43:18
Should we not also ban people from having pets?

Pets also are frequently restrained, trained contrary to their nature, inadequately housed, and oftain left alone for many hours while their owners are away.

While we are at it, we may as well close all the zoos, and shut down all the good work and research and conservation efforts that they do.

Have all animals out in the wild, and there they are left to the forces of nature: to kill and be killed.
(Or just starve to death)

The wild may be good, but wild can also be cruel.
As can also be captivity.
And, your pet dog or cat, etc, is also a captive.
But! Good pet owners love and care for their pets as do circus animal handlers.

I do not condone cruelty or brutality to animals!

But! I have seen animal trainers in circuses perform with their animals; yet, I have never seen any animal cowering in fear in the corner.

Is it possible that animals such as, lions, tigers or elephants, could be brutalised by a trainer and that animal not realise that he could easily attack that cruel oppresser?
Animals are not that stupid!

I have seen how one particular circus tiger trainer dealt with his tigers, his animals. They were his pets: his caravan was inside the tiger enclosure, he lived and breathed for his tigers.
Yes, certainly, he put on a circus show! But, how else could he be able to finance their keep and his livelyhood? (Or should these tigers be in the wild to be killed by poachers for some chinese remedy)

When you arrive home, why does your dog come to greet you, wagging his tail? Why does he not run out past you, into the wild?

Perhaps it is because animals like humans do not live in ideal circumstances. We put up with what we have.



4

Keep Scotland Green,

Doune 03/07/2008 09:32:22
Tomi, you are sadly mistaken. The only way to train wild animals is to break them and that is done by violence against them from a young age. Surely in this day and age we are beyond the cycling bear acts? Animals are not there for our entertainment. Wild animals should be just that - wild. Domestic animals are domesticated...the difference is obvious to most people and thankfully to the East Ayrshire council. Good on you! Hope to see more councils follow your lead and put an end to this in Scotland.
5

Horrible Cankers at the Cyber Shebeen,

03/07/2008 09:50:04
3...Oh for gods sake!!!!...do you work for the circus or something??????????????

Have a look on the internet at some of the footage of circus trainers brutality....I guarantee you it will shame and disgust you...GO ON...HAVE A LOOK!!!!

Wild animals are meant to be free...in their own natural environment not trapped in a tent with stupid human faces staring at them...companion animals...cats and dogs...can be stuck in a flat or have a certain amount of freedom... but normally they are domesticated and live with human beings...unless they are feral and living outdoors...even at that they will come to your door looking for food....we are not talking about the same type of creature here...

"Animals are not that stupid"...what a 'stupid' comment...once an animals spirit is broken it is ruled by fear....have a bit of compassion please!...a majestic creature like a wild tiger..performing tricks for gawping humans...I am ashamed of the people who enjoy this...

"I have seen animal circus trainers perform with their animals - yet I have never seen any animal cowering in fear in the corner"...eh?...do you think the trainer is going to abuse the animal in front of the gawpers?...now that would just not be good publicity for the circus now would it?...these animals are like robots...they KNOW that if they do not perform as was thrashed into them they will suffer....

A certain circus in America has lost several sea-lions over the years....these animals are not meant to be stuck in lorries travelling all over the place...several are now dead...and other animals?...kept in cages...not free to run or roam...hunt or find a mate?....

I cannot believe that it is the 21st century and this is still classed as entertainment...and what is even sadder...you are obviously an educated individual seeking to justify the sickness that is the circus...can you not see how morally wrong it is?
6

Iain's,

03/07/2008 15:46:54
People should also be banned from keeping pet animals. How would you like a lifetime of slavery?

Horses should not be forced to race or work.

Dogs should not be forced to work let alone 'dance'.

Cats should be thrown out to live off the land as was intended.

Wildlife such as rats, flies, mosquitos, snakes and all bugs should be left alone.

Honestly, I think that there are more important things such as the Government of Zimbabwe starving its people.

7

Horrible Cankers at the Cyber Shebeen,

03/07/2008 18:22:42
6...and your point is what?...that we should ignore the plight of animals held in captivity and routinely abused?...yeah I can see you are a really humane human being....

...it is an issue because people recognise it is wrong and want it to stop...they wish animals to stop suffering...there are more important things but it does not stop this being an issue or make it go away...

...your daft comments in no way undermine the horror that circus animals are on the receiving end of...if you condone this or dont give a stuff thats your choice, but do not try and make it mine.
8

Calvinist,

03/07/2008 20:35:49
Cats that kill songbirds should be executed.
9

SouthernSkye,

03/07/2008 20:50:21
Instead of banning they should enforce laws. Seek out and prosecute the bad and the cruel whilst, at the same time, rewarding those who have excellent standards.
Banning is a simple answer and involves little effort on the part of the council.It just shoves the problems elsewhere, non council land or land under another councils control.
I've visited "the workings" of several circus and some are excellent, some are not.

 

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