What happens when the circus comes to town

L.A. Now blogger Veronique de Turenne reminds us that the circus has come to town (at Staples), complete with acts, animals and controvery. PETA and other animal rights organizations would like all of us to boycott the circus, which has a few problems of its own.

This fall, Ringling Brothers is supposed to go to court for a trial over charges that it abuses its Asian elephants in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act. Ringling Brothers denies the allegations, as reported in the L.A. Weekly's article on a most unusual protest against the circus.

Photo: Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[observer]

DO NOT GO TO THE CIRCUS MY KIDS ARE 18 AND 20 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THEM TO A CIRCUS AND THEY DID NOT MISS OUT ON ONE THING WE HAVE A LOT OF PETS KIND OF LIKE A CIRCUS AT TIMES WHERE THEY LEARNED TO TAKE CARE OF ANIMALS NOT EXPLOIT THEM FOR ANY REASON

[Dave Bernazani]

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are still small-minded and insensitive enough to go to circuses and actually be entertained by nonhuman animals performing degrading, unnatural acts while closing their minds to the cruelty that goes on behind the scenes; and those of us who would like nothing better than to see all circus animals released to rehab and rescue centers and laws passed to ban the use of our fellow beings as entertainment in any form. Which are you?
Don't go to circuses that use animals-- it's time we stopped this outdated, unethical form of abuse. Thank you.