[Rainbowbird]

My son has been kind of interested in the circus of late, mainly from seeing pix in books and his preschool teacher talking about it. I think they had some kind of circus center in the preschool that she tried to set up, but nobody played with it b/c most of the kids hadn't seen a circus yet.

So today we are driving around doing errands and we pass...the circus! Being set up in a nearby town. I point it out and the kids get all excited.

Later on I learned that this particular circus (Cole Bros.) does NOT have a good rep. for treating animals humanely. So I am not going to bring my children to this particular circus.

Have you ever taken your kids to one? Are there ANY circus acts that at least treat their animals with loving care? I know that some folks will say that any circus act is animal abuse, and I know where you're coming from; I just wonder if there is one with a good rep?

Curious.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I have never heard of a reputable circus so my answer is 'no'.

 

[ChristyH]

My kids have never been to the circus and I can't imagine myself taking them to any circus except maybe Cirque de Soleil(but there are no animals involved in that one). My heart just sinks when I see those poor animals in the acts and I don't want my kids to see that.
I don't know of any circus that has a good rep in way of treating animals right.

 

[Stinkerbell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristyH My kids have never been to the circus and I can't imagine myself taking them to any circus except maybe Cirque de Soleil(but there are no animals involved in that one). My heart just sinks when I see those poor animals in the acts and I don't want my kids to see that. I don't know of any circus that has a good rep in way of treating animals right.

ditto! My biggest lesson is that I am not going to spend my hard earned moneyt to support known animal abuse.

From an IMPACT press article:

Quote:

...A growing number of animal-friendly circuses, such as Circo Fantastico, Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Ingénieux, Earth Circus, Flying High Circus, Lazer Vaudeville, and The New Pickle Family Circus, among others, dazzle audiences with human acrobatics and performances worthy of awe and admiration.

 

[Maeve]

My kids have never been to the circus and we won't be taking them. We've explained to them why and they understand and agree. They will even explain to people why we don't go.

 

[delicious]

no. i might take them to a person-only circus, i guess, if they were interested. but not to a regular circus.

 

[Black Orchid]

dd went to the "Pet Circus" with MIL and FIL last year. she LOVED it and it is very humane. i thought it was a perfect alternative to the bad, bad circuses that travel the US. she really loved the jumproping dogs and talked about it for months.

ETA: I just googled the guy, gregory popvich http://www.comedypet.com/ WOW, I had no idea he had gotten so big over the past year. I'm going to vote for him on that america's got talent show!

 

[midstreammama]

No. Someone had a link in their siggy to elephants being shocked and beaten to perform their acts. Seeing that makes me never want to condone/support/endorse something like that. Ever.

 

[Neth Naneth]

That is a hard situation, personally I wouldn't take my DS to a circus unless it was strictly human preformers. Good luck resolving your situation.

 

[kennedy444]

We've gone to the Big Apple Circus and Circus Smirkus. Both are one ring shows under a big top. Lots of fun. Circus Smirkus is actually all kids that have attended a circus camp in VT and have trained there.

 

[RubyWild]

No.

 

[vloky]

no because I'm scared of clowns.

 

[User101]

Nope, not a traditional one w/ animals.

 

[Mary-Beth]

No, unless it was just people or people and dogs doing tricks.

We just had a circus visit our town and I really, really wanted to take the kids but decided not ot becasue the animals just aren't given a humane living experience traveling with a circus.

 

[Periwinkle]

: as always learning on this site. Never thought about it but my oldest are approaching "circus age" so I'll definitely look for animal friendly ones instead.

 

[Ruthla]

No, I wouldn't go. First of all, I'd be overwhelmed with the noise and the crowd. I think my girls went once when somebody else took them.

DS has never been to a circus and I don't ever intend to take him to one, or let anybody else take him either.

 

[a_work_in_progress]

I've never taken my kids to the circus, and I don't think I ever will. A couple years ago, the circus was in town, and my oldest DD and I walked by where they were setting up. There was a protester outside, and I encouraged my DD to talk to her. The woman explained to my then 6 y/o how the animals are treated (in a very age appropriate way). Then, I took my DD to the library where we got 2 books... one pro circus, and one anti circus. We read the books together, and my DD made her own decision, that she didn't want to attend. I was very proud of her.

 

[muttix2]

Only if said circus had only human performers.

 

[Jasmyn's Mum]

I'd take dd to Cirque de Soleil but that is the only reputable people-only circus that I know of. Other than that, no.

 

[JessasMilkMama]

I havent and dont think I would. It doesnt feel right, knowing what they do to animals.

Cirque de soleil I would LOVE to go to, though.