Animal cruelty protesters campaign at Clacton circus

9:00am Friday 3rd August 2012 in News

ANIMAL cruelty protesters lined up with banners and placards outside a circus in a bid to make people boycott the show.

Campaigners called for people to avoid Big Top Productions Circus, currently performing in Clacton.

They claim the use of wild animals in the show is cruel.

Jane Williams led a group of about 20 people in a protest outside the circus at West Road over the weekend.

She said: “There is a minority of people that still think it is okay to have animals at the circus, and we want to get our message across to them.

“In my opinion the animals are mistreated, being forced into wretched and demeaning acts in the name of entertainment.

“Our demonstrations are peaceful, and they are all about making people aware of this problem, and maybe get them to stop and think about it for a second."

Martin Lacey, circus owner and trainer said: “We have been coming to Clacton since 1987 and the people here support us. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t come.

“The protesters were screaming at the public and the police had to be called on Sunday.

“We are here to provide entertainment, not to have our customers screamed at.

“We are licensed by council, environmental health and Trading Standards, who are responsible for animal welfare.

“We have got a clean bill of health from more than 30 councils around the country – those protestors have tunnel vision.

“The animals are not cooped up in tiny cages. When a tiger act costs £30,000 to £40,000, nobody in their right mind would mistreat that kind of investment.”

Comments(12)

cavillas says...
12:02pm Fri 3 Aug 12

What gives the right for these demonstrators to dictate what people can or cannot see without harrassment. Just because they don't believe in animals in circuses doesn't mean they have the right to impose thier views on others or intimidate others in any way.

As it is animals in circuses have been around for thousands of years, just because a certain group think differently doesn't make it wrong morally or ethically.

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Judi Thomas says...
1:52pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Cavillas, this isn't about the freedom to see a harmless entertainment, it is about the abuse and suffering of sentient beings, and bringing this to people's attention. Trying to justify animal abuse in circuses by saying it has been around a long time is a redundant argument, we live in more enlightened times now, thank God. I believe that the systematic use of pain and fear to 'break' and train wild animals, confining them for long periods of time in small cages or in chains, preventing them from exhibiting any of their natural behaviours, keeping strongly social animals alone, and dragging them all over the country is morally and ethically wrong. Our present government hardly has a good track record when it comes to protection of animals, but it has indicated that it will move towards a ban of wild animals in circuses, and the majority of the British public have been shown to be in favour of this. However, there is no knowing when this may happen and concerned citizens take action to keep up the pressure and spread awareness. I don't agree with intimidation or harassment and I don't know if that happened here, we only have the word of the circus owner, who would say that. If you would like to see why people feel so passionately about this issue please see the link below.
http://www.ad-intern
ational.org/media/GB
C_Elephant_Report_F_
2010.pdf

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Judi Thomas says...
1:54pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Cavillas, this isn't about the freedom to see a harmless entertainment, it is about the abuse and suffering of sentient beings, and bringing this to people's attention. Trying to justify animal abuse in circuses by saying it has been around a long time is a redundant argument, we live in more enlightened times now, thank God. I believe that the systematic use of pain and fear to 'break' and train wild animals, confining them for long periods of time in small cages or in chains, preventing them from exhibiting any of their natural behaviours, keeping strongly social animals alone, and dragging them all over the country is morally and ethically wrong. Our present government hardly has a good track record when it comes to protection of animals, but it has indicated that it will move towards a ban of wild animals in circuses, and the majority of the British public have been shown to be in favour of this. However, there is no knowing when this may happen and concerned citizens take action to keep up the pressure and spread awareness. I don't agree with intimidation or harassment and I don't know if that happened here, we only have the word of the circus owner, who would say that. If you would like to see why people feel so passionately about this issue please see the link below.
http://www.ad-intern
ational.org/media/GB
C_Elephant_Report_F_
2010.pdf

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thekingofjaywick says...
8:06pm Fri 3 Aug 12

Judi Thomas wrote:
Cavillas, this isn't about the freedom to see a harmless entertainment, it is about the abuse and suffering of sentient beings, and bringing this to people's attention. Trying to justify animal abuse in circuses by saying it has been around a long time is a redundant argument, we live in more enlightened times now, thank God. I believe that the systematic use of pain and fear to 'break' and train wild animals, confining them for long periods of time in small cages or in chains, preventing them from exhibiting any of their natural behaviours, keeping strongly social animals alone, and dragging them all over the country is morally and ethically wrong. Our present government hardly has a good track record when it comes to protection of animals, but it has indicated that it will move towards a ban of wild animals in circuses, and the majority of the British public have been shown to be in favour of this. However, there is no knowing when this may happen and concerned citizens take action to keep up the pressure and spread awareness. I don't agree with intimidation or harassment and I don't know if that happened here, we only have the word of the circus owner, who would say that. If you would like to see why people feel so passionately about this issue please see the link below.
http://www.ad-intern

ational.org/media/GB

C_Elephant_Report_F_

2010.pdf
Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
rrrrrrrr,,, if you stop the circus making money these animals wont go back to the wild they wouldn't survive what you are potently doing is causing them to be underfed they wont be able to buy the food needed ,,, Derrrrrrrrrrrr PC brigade one track minded foooooooool.

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jaceylacey says...
7:59pm Sat 4 Aug 12

Why don't these animal rights nutjobs do something useful, like protest outside a halal meat factory.

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thekingofjaywick says...
10:58am Sun 5 Aug 12

jaceylacey wrote:
Why don't these animal rights nutjobs do something useful, like protest outside a halal meat factory.
"halal meat factory" what happens there ?

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jaceylacey says...
4:30pm Sun 5 Aug 12

thekingofjaywick wrote:
jaceylacey wrote:
Why don't these animal rights nutjobs do something useful, like protest outside a halal meat factory.
"halal meat factory" what happens there ?
They cut the animals throats whilst they are still alive....not a quick death by any means.

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jaceylacey says...
7:14pm Sun 5 Aug 12

transitmichalinman wrote:
jaceylacey wrote:
thekingofjaywick wrote:
jaceylacey wrote:
Why don't these animal rights nutjobs do something useful, like protest outside a halal meat factory.
"halal meat factory" what happens there ?
They cut the animals throats whilst they are still alive....not a quick death by any means.
wow!!!!! are these the same Muslim types that cut our throats given half a chance
I'm afraid so!

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Dave Bruce says...
12:49pm Mon 6 Aug 12

So, let me get this straight: Jane Williams led a group of about 20 protesters in a protest outside the circus, but according to her, all the visitors to the circus are in the minority? Hmm, no, the maths just don't add up, sorry. Please don't insult the rest of us, Jane, just because we don't share your opinion. Until the circus owner is proven guilty of breaching the law regarding his animals, I and my family shall continue to support the circus and its animals, as is our legal right. Besides, I have never been asked about my views on circus animals, so how does Jane Williams know that I, and people like me, are in the minority (as she would like to have us all believe)? I have a mind of my own and so does each member of my family, thank you.

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AUNTYBET says...
12:58pm Tue 7 Aug 12

ANYONE EVER HEARD OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND BEING ABLE TO VOICE YOUR OPINION? I KNOW THAT THE PROTESTERS WERE TOLD NOT TO SHOUT OR SWEAR BECAUSE OF CHILDREN BEING AROUND AND THAT THERE WAS ONE POLICE OFFICER IN PARTICULAR WHO WAS RUDE AND AGGRESSIVE IN HIS MANNER TOWARDS ONE OF THE PROTESTERS. NICE CHAP!

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Dave Bruce says...
5:11pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Calm down, auntybet! Yes, I have heard of freedom of speech and I was exercising MY right to freedom of speech on here. Unfortunately, where these protesters are concerned, freedom of speech usually only applies to those on one particular side.

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bigcatman says...
7:44pm Fri 31 Aug 12

@Jaceylacy. Any relation to martin lacey of great british circuses?

Having had Martin deal with the lions and tigers that were in my charge, I can say that at the time I was not a big fan of martin's handling and welfare techniques. The main issue was that a circus was near this so-called "lion" sighting and many people had the assumption that if this sighting was genuine then where could this animal have come from?
As we all know now, this sighting was nothing more than someone's silly mind, and a very expensive silly sighting at that.

The new rules that come into force shortly regarding animals being kept in circuses is a matter for those circuses.

The lions and tigers under my charge were under the ownership of another well-known circus family , they ended up being prosocuted and unable to live in the UK under their own business. Having privately seen what martin lacey does, I have my own personal opinion. It is not upto me or others to inforce the law and rules but that is for the RSPCA and for those in the courts.

Having had very personal experience with the animal rights brigade, all being bad, and having even been injuried by these over the top fools. I do have plenty of words to say, not good words and nothing that will be of use, as I find such people who hide behind such bafoonery as sad as well as misguided at times. Again this is my own personal view.

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