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Circus defends use of animals

Simon Thacker
20/10/2005

CIRCUS bosses this week defended the use of animals in their act, following a call to boycott the performance by animal rights campaigners.

The campaigners urged Accrington people not to visit the travelling circus during its visit to the town.

Zippo's Circus, which uses dogs, horses and budgerigars in its act has been performing this week and is set to hold its final show on Sunday.

But the circus has come under fire from the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS) which has urged people to boycott the show over its use of animals.

In a letter to the Observer Craig Redmond, campaigns officer for CAPS said: "By their very nature circuses cannot provide all the space and necessary requirements to guarantee the well-being of animals.

"CAPS believes that animals can suffer in a circus environment and we ask the public to boycott animal circuses. We also ask shop-keepers not to display posters for circuses with animal acts.

"We are not opposed to all circuses, just those with animal acts. The human performers can choose to be there, the animals have no choice."

But bosses at the circus, which has been running since 1982 say all their animals are well cared-for and that the show is good family fun.

Ringmaster Norman Barrett said: "I have been in showbusiness all my life and this is a very traditional circus. Our horses, dogs and budgerigars are as well looked-after as any other trained animal.

"There are many trained animals, such as greyhounds, but when people see them in a circus they think they must be cruelly treated. But they are inspected all the time and we have all the facilities we need to care for them.

"We are living in a democratic society and people can express their opinions. But that doesn't mean they can force them on to other people."