Let’s figure out a creative way to make the animal circus a thing of the past in Roanoke!
The worldwide trend is for circuses to be animal-free. They are more fun, more creative and easier to operate. But perhaps most importantly animal-free circuses say no to the animal cruelty that is necessary when elephants, tigers and more are used for circus entertainment.
Many cities only permit a circus that is animal-free to perform within their city limits. Unfortunately this is not yet the case in Roanoke.
Shrine Animal Circus comes to Roanoke yet again Jan 29 – Feb 1 at Berglund Center Coliseum. Despite repeated requests to the Roanoke Shrine organization to bring animal-free circuses – and despite the well-documented multiple animal abuse records of the circuses they bring to town – they continue to bring the animal circus here.
It is inevitable that at some point Roanoke will say no to animal-circuses performing here. But we want to speed up this process.
We’re doing all we can to ensure the Roanoke Shrine sponsored Jordan World Circus (from Las Vegas) is the last time Roanoke permits an animal circus within city limits. With just a few minutes of the average 2-hour show featuring wild animals, it’s a simple matter for circuses to re-tool and re-shape their shows.
Look at the animal abuse record of Jordan World Circus: The USDA has cited Jordan World Circus numerous times for failing to provide proper veterinary care, proper handling, nutritious food and clean water, shelter from the elements, and exercise and for inadequate and unsafe enclosures. Jordan waited a month to seek treatment for a malnourished tiger with a fractured leg, and it forced another sick tiger to perform. Jordan has left its tigers and lions in small travel cages for up to 11 days without exercise. And on top of all this, Jordan uses elephants with a history of aggressive behavior.
Does Roanoke really want the children of this fine city experiencing this type of “entertainment”? And an animal-free circus is more fun!”
I am trying to work with city council to have an ordinance brought allowing only animal-free circuses within city limits. They are researching whether they have jurisdiction on this matter.
Here is a short video on the subject featuring Jordan World Circus:– River Laker
