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When the Circus Comes to Town | #BtC4A

7/15/2013

15 Comments

 
Typist: Bethany
Circuses have been on my radar lately, though, besides seeing the occasional tweet or e-mail about yet another animal cruelty photograph, trainer account or video surfacing, they're usually not. On our recent trip to Boise, Idaho, we encountered animal rights protestors outside of the CenturyLink Arena because the Shrine Circus was in town. This weekend, a friend told me it was a bit of a moral dilemma for her, but she took her kids to a circus while visiting family in the mid-west. Both of these recent experiences made me ponder the moral dilemma that many people have with circuses. They want to go to the circus, maybe it's a family tradition or they just truly enjoy the clowns, but they also don't want to support the cruelty that has been documented in the circus animal training and travel world. There's a whole lot of very good reasons not to go to the circus. And if we stopped going, and tickets stopped selling, the animal cruelty would stop too. But what else can you do? Well, here are some ideas:
  • Attend animal-free circuses. There are lot's of them! Search for acrobat, trapeze, aerialist, tight-rope and juggling acts in your area. Here in Cascadia we even have many youth circus groups and schools that do amazing (and often free) shows. And athletes that are very closely related to circus stars are gymnastics and track stars. You and your family might be just as in awe at seeing a record breaking pole vault or award winning balance beam routine at a local meet as in seeing the man on the flying trapeze or the tight rope walker.
  • Go to the fair. The very best way for you and your family to get up close and personal with amazing animals is at a county or state fair. Every year, I learn something new about animals from the 4-H, school or community center projects people enter in the state and county fairs. Then there's the animals themselves- wow- Guinea Pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chickens, ducks, swans, geese, peacocks, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, cows, horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, goats, pigs, sheep and more of all shapes, sizes, ages and colors. You might be lucky enough to pet or hold a prize winner and you can often meet and talk with the owners.
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Leo entertains a crowd
  • Go to the zoo. We are fortunate to have four excellent zoos and aquariums here in Washington and nearly a dozen in Cascadia. If a quality zoo or aquarium isn't an easily accessible day trip for you, save the money you'd spend on the circus and plan a weekend road trip to one near-by soon.
  • Go to a farm. Search for farm tours or historical farms in your area. This can be another great learning opportunity for the whole family and it's a great way to support your neighbors instead of the circus.
  • Go to a pet-friendly event like a street fair or outdoor concert even if you don't have pets. I am always happy to allow kids who ask (or to help them learn they should ask) to pet the dogs and to say "hello" to Leo. I love to talk about my pets and I take them out to be around people. You get summer entertainment (there are often clowns, jugglers and acrobats at street fairs too,) my pets get some socialization and you get cruelty free animal time.
  • Find a pet day at your local library, school, park or community center. You might find and enjoy and event as small as aReading with Rover Day or one as large as our local Petapalooza. Clubs, municipalities, shelters and other non-profits hold fundraisers and events with pet parades and races all year around all over the globe. Your family can have awesome animal time and possibly even support a good cause.
  • Join an animal hobbyist group. This could mean you volunteer at a rescue or begin a project with 4-H. There are so many ways to get involved with, learn about and be in awe of animals besides buying a ticket to a circus.
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Wilhelm offers cruelty-free animal time for the whole family
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What ways do you think families can enjoy time together without purchasing a circus ticket? How do you spend time in awe of animals without supporting the cruelty involved in circus animal training and travel?

15 Comments
SlimDoggy link
7/15/2013 06:22:14 am

Loved this post - this is something most folks don't think about at all, so calling attention to it is a great idea. So many alternatives to the circus.

Reply
Bethany
7/15/2013 12:41:17 pm

Thank you, Slimdoggy. I feel like every time the issue is brought up, there is just "isn't this horrible" shock photos and stories (which I, honestly, as a defense mechanism, tend to shut down over and then tune out.) So, instead, I presented some positive alternatives.

Reply
Marie Angelique link
7/15/2013 07:07:14 am

The no-kill shelter in the town where I lived prior, had a program where every Saturday volunteers would come and walk the dogs in the nearby trails. It was especially great to see so many people come out especially single Soldiers who would love to be dog owners but because of their job and deployments cannot, come out every weekend to join in and be "pet walkers" for a day. It was a win-win for everyone!

Reply
Bethany
7/15/2013 12:42:52 pm

I love that idea, Marie, thank you! When I could not have my dog with me (in college) I walked dogs every week at the local rescue and it was so wonderful!

Reply
Reilly and Denny link
7/15/2013 09:04:12 am

All excellent points and ideas - thank you for sharing.

Reply
Bethany
7/15/2013 12:52:25 pm

Thank you. I suppose it is also a fun summer activities list even if you never planned to go to a circus!

Reply
Katherine
7/15/2013 10:42:23 am

Visiting a local dog park is a great place for animal interaction, too! Our dog park even has a monthly "yappy hour" with drinks for the adults and doggy popsicles for the pups.

Reply
Katherine
7/15/2013 12:45:40 pm

That's awesome, Katherine. Maybe I should organize something like that at our dog park! However, dog parks are not always the best places for kids to visit with dogs- it all depends on the park and the size and age of the kids.

Reply
Jackie Bouchard link
7/15/2013 10:58:57 am

Great post with lots of good ideas!

(I never did like the circus, I must say... even as a little kid, clowns totally creeped me out! Now, because of the animals, I like them even less!)

Reply
Bethany
7/15/2013 12:49:18 pm

As a kid, I remember thinking the animals seemed sad and I actually just couldn't watch them (except the dog tricks- those were neat!) Thank you for hopping by!

Reply
Molly The Wally link
7/15/2013 06:42:25 pm

Our circuses are mainly non animal here and zoos are mainly focusing on breeding of endangered species. We have come a long way. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Finn link
7/15/2013 08:55:59 pm

Those are some really good and smart ideas. I think I only went to the circus once as a young kid and I very much remember being tramatized by the clowns. What is it with clowns? I am going to look into pet friend community events for the rest of the summer, there has got to be a bunch!

Reply
Sue Kottwitz link
7/15/2013 09:27:35 pm

Great Blog the Change post! This is an issue I rarely see much about (compared to other animal welfare issues) and I'm so glad you wrote about it. Though, personally, I have some problems with zoos, too, I totally agree with you about circuses and love your alternative suggestions.

Reply
Taryn link
7/15/2013 11:23:00 pm

I won't go to the circus either, and try to spread the word when ever I hear neighbors talking about it.

Another good alternative would be to search out a local agility trial. Go watch all the teams try their best at the obstacle course (esp. the advanced level dogs). It is sure to entertain! And it's free to get in, double bonus!

Reply
KimT link
8/2/2013 05:59:26 am

Excellent alternatives to attending the circus - brilliant! Now to spread the word and encourage the masses...these suggestions should make it easy!

Thank you for blogging the change for animals!
KimT
www.BTC4Animals.com
http://cindylusmuse.blogspot.com

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