# The circus and animal cruelty **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 20, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978 "2005-11-20T20:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/21 "2005-11-21T14:48:17Z")
I think the attack on Sigfrid by one of his “tame” tigers only goes to show once again that this situation just shouldn’t exist anymore. If that means putting the animals down, than so be it. I think that is actually more humane than having an elephant perform tricks. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/22 "2005-11-21T14:54:45Z")
> [@Scoundrel Swanswater](#): > > I think the attack on Sigfrid by one of his “tame” tigers only goes to show once again that this situation just shouldn’t exist anymore. > If that means putting the animals down, than so be it. > I think that is actually more humane than having an elephant perform tricks. Would you rather be dead than forced to perform tricks? Really? I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/23 "2005-11-21T15:32:37Z")
I’m sure he wouldn’t, but animals are just not as worthy as humans. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/24 "2005-11-21T15:36:58Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > People can’t even treat dogs and cats well enough, let alone exotic pets that need more speciali **s** ed care. Tell me about it, we’ve been trying to export those exotic American z’s for years now and they just don’t take… ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/25 "2005-11-21T16:57:52Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > I’m sure he wouldn’t, but animals are just not as worthy as humans. Don’t put words in my mouth!! Why the fuck would you go and say a thing like that? In general I think people are worth less than animals, so… If the choice was standing in a cage all day and only getting out to perform stupid tricks, then hell yes, I would rather be dead. Even people in jail have a more meaningful existence than that of a circus-animal. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/26 "2005-11-21T20:03:49Z")
We don’t have exotic pets here in NZ as it is illegal but I know zoos would take unwanted circus animals. If there was nowhere that they could be taken, then yes, they should be destroyed - what a horrible job that would be, however, preferable to the continued use of animals in circuses. That is no life for an animal. ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/27 "2005-11-21T23:02:51Z")
This reminded me of this little snippet I saw on the web. [http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowbizNews.asp?Code=GR18605X&headline=paris\_to\_lose\_monkey](http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowbizNews.asp?Code=GR18605X&headline=paris_to_lose_monkey) Forget cruelty in the circus, how about having to be a pet of a socialite? ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/28 "2005-11-22T16:00:22Z")
In Canada we replaced the animals with the French. It seems to work much better for all concerned and I truly believe that the French in the [Cirque du Soleil](http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/default.htm) are much happier and receive better treatment than the French in the wild. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/29 "2005-11-22T20:02:52Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > In Canada we replaced the animals with the French. It seems to work much better for all concerned and I truly believe that the French in the [Cirque du Soleil](http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/default.htm) are much happier and receive better treatment than the French in the wild. He he - agree - they keep coming here too! Hey, I’m from Cambridge, NZ and I’ve been to your Cambridge. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/30 "2005-11-23T03:18:23Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > He he - agree - they keep coming here too! > Hey, I’m from Cambridge, NZ and I’ve been to your Cambridge. With winter coming here, Kiwi Cambridge is the place to be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/31 "2005-11-24T05:42:14Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > I went to a circus when quite young. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Have no desire to go again. Zoos also. Though when I went when young, all the cats were in small cages and looked really mad. Zoos have changed a lot. The Pittsburgh Zoo, for example, is wonderful-the animals have their own areas built to resemble their natural habitats, (which are usually gorgeous), and they’re well-cared for. Plus, without zoos, many of these animals would be extinct by now. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/32 "2005-11-24T05:48:52Z")
I know, I visit them now and it seems to be much better conditions in zoos. When did that happen? Did a group complain? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/33 "2005-11-24T05:55:02Z")
> [@Scoundrel Swanswater](#): > > I think the attack on Sigfrid by one of his “tame” tigers only goes to show once again that this situation just shouldn’t exist anymore. > If that means putting the animals down, than so be it. > I think that is actually more humane than having an elephant perform tricks. Sorry I missed this. First, it was Roy who was attacked, not Siegfried. Second, there is a lot of dispute over what happened. According to the duo, who trained the tiger, Montecore since he was a kitten, there was a scuffle when Roy tried to prevent a woman from reaching out and petting the animal, Montecore misunderstood, and grabbed him to protect him. At least, that was what Roy said, and since they’ve devoted most of their careers to saving and breeding these animals, I’d trust them. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/34 "2005-11-24T10:37:49Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > In Canada we replaced the animals with the French. It seems to work much better for all concerned and I truly believe that the French in the [Cirque du Soleil](http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/default.htm) are much happier and receive better treatment than the French in the wild. Funniest post I’ve read all week. Hats off. ---
**Author:** ![Queuing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Queuing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queuing)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/35 "2005-11-24T18:32:02Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Funniest post I’ve read all week. Hats off. I second this notion. In fact it is one of the funniest posts I have read here period. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978/36 "2005-11-24T19:08:53Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > I know, I visit them now and it seems to be much better conditions in zoos. When did that happen? Did a group complain? I believe the World Wildlife Fund and Gerald Durrell had a lot to do with improving conditions in zoos. It started with zoos signing up to be part of a group with approved conditions - the zoo in Antwerp was an early one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-circus-and-animal-cruelty/331978.md?page=1)