Circus Without Animals, Imagine if

¶ … circus without animals, imagine if there was no lion show, no ring master, no flying monkeys, or dancing bears. There are many entertainment venues and sports venues that use animals as part of their show, but this does not necessarily make them abusive or corrupt. Just as human beings, whether they are athletes or clowns, are used as part of entertainment, so are animals. They are neither treated cruelly as a rule, nor neglected. Therefore, their use in sports and entertainment should continue as long as they are being treated with kindness and respect.

Animals should be allowed within entertainment and sports because they serve a specific purpose of entertainment. Many opponents such as members of PETA say that using them in such a way is cruel and demeaning. However, circuses, entertainment venues, and sporting events rarely treat their animals with cruelty. Rather the majority of animals working within the entertainment profession are carefully guarded and treated because they are an important part of the act themselves. Sea World for instance, expand over 30% of their annual revenue on animal maintenance, providing the best facilities for their animals and caring for them with extremely precision. Therefore, animals within entertainment are treated with respect rather than with cruelty.

Furthermore, animals are given much more respect within entertainment than otherwise. Animals are viewed with both awe and joy by those who are watching them. They raise the level of awareness we feel for animals and make the audience care more. They would receive no better treatment were they "in the wild" or domesticated. Having animals in entertainment can be equivalent to having a pet at home, both of which is not demeaning as a rule.

Using Animals within entertainment does not hurt animals, on the contrary it helps improve their overall image within audiences, and at the same time they receive special and respectful treatment from their caretakers. It is a win-win situation for both sides.