COMMENTARY | “What is it about Western society that makes it possible for people to express great affection for animals as sentient creatures and simultaneously turn a blind eye to the most callous behavior toward them?” ask Arnold Arluke and Clinton R. Sanders in their book Regarding Animals (Animals, Culture and Society).
The parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was hit with a record fine of $270,000 for violating the animal welfare act on several occasions. This follows a recent effort by House Democrats to bar the use of exotic animals from traveling shows, citing treatment of the animals on the road.
Animal cruelty is a serious issue, and the welfare of circus animals is a problem that should concern Congress. But the complete ban on exotic animals in traveling shows goes too far. This problem is best handled through fines liked the ones levied against Ringling Bros. Laws are already in place, and as in this case, they were enforced. Since traveling shows go all over the country, federal laws and agencies need to be involved in enforcement.
I would take my children to a circus. For them, the show is more about the atmosphere and the animals. Also, circus animals, particularly big cats (lions, tigers, leopards) and elephants, respond on an emotional level and even develop an emotional rapport with, their trainers. Peta Tait describes this phenomenon in the scholarly study Wild and Dangerous Performances: Animals, Emotions, Circus.
Keep circuses going, and let Congress use its powerful voice to help make the public aware of any poor treatment of elephants, tigers, and other exotic animals. Bringing such practices to light would hurt any offending circus financially. Private foundations can go one step further. For example, on the PETA.org website they actually ask their readers to, “Ask all the parents you know not to take their children to this cruel show, and explain why.”
Such activity is a great start to getting families to not support animal cruelty when it exists. And government should step in at a national level for the good of animals, people, and our society.