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Circus show goes on amid cruelty protest
Circus show goes on amid cruelty protest
A ROW over cruelty at a travelling animal circus performing in Dronfield has erupted as the show reaches its weekend climax.
National animal charity Captive Animals' Protection Society, CAPS, urges people to boycott the Circus Mondao.
But staff insist they are proud to work with animals including zebras, camels, lamas, pigeons, goats and horses and have nothing to hide.
Craig Redmond, director of CAPS, said: "We would encourage people to avoid all animal circuses.
"Most circuses now feature an all-human cast, removing the need to keep animals confined for long periods, transport them around the country and use hidden training methods to make them perform."
However, Circus Mondao ring mistress Petra Jackson told The Star there is nothing wrong with animal circuses.
"Is it cruel to teach dogs to sit and stay? Well if it is, ban us. Everyone thinks it's OK to teach and perform with animals but as soon as it's in a circus it's cruel. "
The circus will perform its final three shows this weekend at the Showground, off the A61 Bowshaw roundabout. It arrived last Wednesday.
Animal circuses must apply for a performing animal licence from their home council before they can travel.
Many councils ban animal circuses from public land. The Dronfield show is on private land.
A Derbyshire County Council spokeswoman said their main concern was with animal welfare. They regularly make unannounced random inspections but have yet to visit Circus Mondao.
Ms Jackson said: "There is nothing wrong with transporting the animals. People put their dogs in their car every day and think nothing of it. We are so passionate about our animals."
Mr Redmond argued his group were backed by academics and said a Bristol University study found circuses fail to provide some of the most basic welfare needs of wild animals, such as space and social groups.
Ms Jackson disagreed and claimed that a lot of the images CAPS uses to highlight cruelty come from circuses 30 to 40 years ago or foreign shows.
"It just takes a second for them to send an email with information like this around, but we spend countless hours looking after out animals."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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