Comments on: All the World’s a Circus

By: Barbara/Daisy

Barbara/Daisy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:44:54 +0000

I would do what my dog taught me to do … not hold a grudge, and forgive freely, especially when someone has changed their bad behaviour.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:29:02 +0000

I got it now, the guy was performing Canine Freestyle. Yay for me and Google

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:27:39 +0000

I definitely agree with Kristyn in the idea of voting with your dollar. In all honesty, I wouldn’t go, but it’s mostly due to my personal freak out involving the crowds not because of the show itself. If I didn’t get all anxious in that kind of setting than, yeah, I probably would go and support their decision (plus, hey! I like a good high wire act.)

I remember when I was little, I went to a local circus that featured your usual trapeze, clowns, etc. But my favorite act was this guy who came out with a couple of his dogs and performed this act where he danced with the dogs and they did tricks. I know it has a name (I have forgotten it), because I know this kind of obedience training is becoming more popular. I think more circuses should have that kind of an animal act. Who doesn’t love a good dog trick?

By: Kristyn

Kristyn — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:05:13 +0000

I’m a firm believer that we dictate the behavior of businesses by where we put our dollars. By all means go, enjoy, prove to them that a show absent of animals is what consumers want and maybe other circuses will follow suit.

By: Susan Montgomery

Susan Montgomery — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:53 +0000

I would go, because now you would be supporting their decision (for whatever reason) to go cruelty-free. If they are a success now, then other circuses still using animals will see they can do well without them. Because no matter what it all comes down to the dollars. If they can make more money without the expense of the animals, then they will.

By: Lisa W

Lisa W — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:43:30 +0000

I agree – I think you should support them for making the change. The protest when Ringling comes to town!

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:22:54 +0000

Absolutely yes! I believe in redemption. Besides, think of it in terms of operant conditioning… you’re rewarding them (positive reinforcement) for a desired behavior (getting rid of exotic animals in their acts). If it doesn’t pay off economically, perhaps the tigers and elephants will make a comeback. And all-human circuses change hearts and minds about animals in circuses. It changes the cultural expectation of what you’ll see at a circus.

Definitely support them, if they really have done away with the animal acts. (Just be really, really sure they’re gone first.)

By: Emily in IL

Emily in IL — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:26:26 +0000

Yes. People change, businesses can change.

Then you can come to IL to watch this: http://www.circuscats.com/

(i think this is awesome since the only thing my cats are trained to do is run to their feeding spots when the cat food can opens!)

By: Rwan Hardesty

Rwan Hardesty — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:10:12 +0000

I’d go. The optimist in me makes me say it’ll be okay. The lawyer in me says that you can’t judge someone until you’ve seen them in action and have evidence to prove they aren’t doing well. Also, even though their reasons may not be the altruistic ones you may want, at least it’s better than it was and faulting them for their past problems isn’t fair in my opinion.