Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Feelings on the Circus?
I took DS to his first Circus the other day & when I posted it to Facebook I got a comment "Why would you support cruelty to animals" I wrote back that I don't support animal cruelty I just wanted my son to experience a Circus cause it's just one of those childhood things..it just kind of annoyed me that I was judged when I was excited to take him because we DO love animals! I guess I didn't really think about what goes on during training
Will you be taking your LO to a Circus?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Feelings on the Circus?
BFP #1: 6/25/09 EDD 2/13/10 @ 6 weeks- Saw HB @ 9 weeks - DS born 2/11/10 (39w5d)
BFP #2: 2/20/13 EDD 11/4/13 - Saw HB 3/19/13 (7w2d) - MMC discovered 4/13/13 (10w5d) - Est. loss @ 9w3d - D&C 4/14/13
BFP #4: 9/10/14 (3w6d) EDD 5/21/15 - natural MC 9/23/14 @ 5w5d
BFP #5: 11/23/14 (3w3d) EDD 8/4/15 - Please be our Rainbow!
I haven't really put much thought to it but I like the idea of animal-free circuses. When DD and future DS get older I'm definitely going to take them to a Cirque du Soleil show. I love those shows!
Absofvckinglutely not.
I went to at least three circuses as a child: some no-name company, Ringling, and the Moscow Circus (in Moscow). I enjoyed them all, but I was too young to understand how the animals were treated and my parents didn't know better. I happen to be far more informed, so even though those "childhood things" were fun at the time, I will not be taking B. He'll get to go to Cirque du Soleil when he's old enough to sit still the entire time, and he'll be blown away.
Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
We might go to the circus. I hadn't really thought about it. The circus comes to the big arena here every year.
I would have deleted that persons comment. That's all, just deleted it.
The animals can be put in a refuge or sanctuary where they could live out there lives rather peacefully actually.
I am a huge animal activist myself and I actually would be saddened and disgusted to see the animals doing monotonous tricks and having such conditions...moving around a lot and worked too much and such small living quarters. Even a zoo does better a treating animals I would think.
I myself have never been to the circus that I can remember and I just have no desire to take DD to one.
When he is older I probably will take him. I'm not going to take hime now when he won't notice the clowns or the acrobats.
This! I could see the person maybe talking to you later if you brought it up again in person and saying "Hey I completely get you wanting to do this with your DS but did you know what happens behind the scenes to these animals?" Making some random assinine comment on facebook isn't going to change someone's actions but informing them in a polite and respectful manner about the cruelty that takes place might.
I get people being up in arms about circuses but I think they need to understand there are better ways to approach the subject than attacking some random mom on FB for taking her kid to a circus.
And for the poster who says that if circuses stopped existing these animals would all end up in sancutaries happily living out the rest of their natural lives I call BS. This would require huge amounts of funds/resources and space that often just aren't there in charitible organizations. In reality what would happen is many of these animals would be killed because there would be no where to place them especially if they are past a viable breeding age, since most zoos want an active breeding population. Currently what is paying for these animals to eat and live is them working. No circus = no money to feed them and put them in sanctuaries. I agree circuses are cruel but I also think anyone who thinks it's all going to turn out rosie for the animals that are already a part of the system if the whole thing stops tomorrow is a bit naive.
Not sure if that's a simple inquiry or a defense as to why you'd go to the circus even when you understand the level of animal cruelty that is involved. If it's a rationale - it's a horrible one. That's like saying "Well, we might as well let the dog fighters keep their dogs and fight them because they've been trained and no one else will want them that way."
To the OPer - No, I will not be taking my kids to a circus. I don't think they'll grow up and feel like some large gaping hole is missing from their childhood because they didn't go to the circus. I went a few times as a kid and nothing about it stands out as particurarly fun and exciting. When their friends are going and I have to tell them no, it will be a good opportunity to teach them values that are important to DH - treating animals humanely and standing behind what you believe in.
However, I would never go blasting someone on FB about their choice to go. The circus was in my hometown this past week so I saw a lot of posts and pictures about it but I never said anything.
Then I don't think you are aware of all the sanctuaries that exist to help rescued animals that are out there. All those places will do anything to get those animals out of cruelty situations and the entertainment business.
I will ask you, when you have time, to please read the following posts to find more information. Circus animal cruelty is well documented in court-submitted evidence, and every circus using animals has been cited for abuse (whether beating or living conditions). I really, really want to raise awareness about this issue. Going to circuses with animals truly does give money to an industry that maintains animal cruelty. (not all trainers are animal beaters; it is the industry itself that is the problem)
https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/51939049.aspx
https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/51946030.aspx
I eat meat, and we try to choose cruelty-free meats whenever possible. But this is not always possible, and we still have to eat. Small changes add up.
Nobody HAS to go to the circus. This is a ridiculous comparison.
Thanks for the feedback. I will add that I did delete the comment because I didn't want to draw attention & have people chime in either agreeing with the poster or to tell him it was a sh*tty thing to say. When I replied to the poster I did it in a private mail.
No more Circus for us, especially after seeing Water for Elephants!
Sigh. You realize that this is a weird generalization, right? How do you know about the habits and lifestyles of anyone here?
I eat meat about twice a week. There is such a thing as certified humane meat and humane treatment of animals whose meat gets eaten. I am lucky enough to live in a place where I can locate these products.
Any other nonsense you want to spew?
I'm sorry, I have to say it - humane meat? Seriously. The animal is getting slaughtered to provide an unnecessary product to gluttonous consumers. There's nothing "humane" about it, regardless of whether the death is quick and "painless". It's a justification for eating meat because you want to. No human NEEDS to eat meat.
That being said, eating meat and going to the circus are separate issues entirely. Would it be nice to live in a world where all humans were vegan and animal welfare advocates? Certainly. For now, I think the animals will take what they can get, and if that means people not going to the circus, then that's something.
Mes Petit Choux
I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then. ~ Alice
We won't be taking Snuggle, but regardless, what they said was rude.
I do eat meat but no CFO's. I buy free range happy cows and chickens (they are called that - happy cows and chickens). We eat a lot less as I pay 30.00/kg for the chicken and about 24.00/kg for the beef. So meat is a treat and we consume alot less than the average family. I can know my meat lived a good life and was killed in ahumane way. What do you think it entails to get an elephant to comply with commands? Positive reinforcement cannot be relied upon when it is a 1000 pound plus animal. The tools they use to train elephants is akin to sticking a knife into their skin and digging it around. Please read this"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahout
lol I was waiting for this argument to come up. Here's how I see it & why I've chosen this "random animal welfare battle." I'm a human being. Thus, the highest on the food chain. I know my place there. Therefor I eat meat. I do not, however, agree with torturing animals for the sole purpose of entertainment. I know I could get the same nutrients from other sources than meat. I choose not too. I enjoy meat as a source of food. I enjoy a hamburger over a tofu burger. So thats why I pick to not support a circus yet still eat meat.
I do realize the food chain is relative & I'm an omnivoir (SP?) more so than just a carnivore.