I got kicked out of the circus

For the moment, I'm not making public the name of the circus, but after I've gotten everything done, you can bet I'll be telling anyone who will listen.

Let me start off by saying I have NO problem with animals in a circus as long as they are treated humanely and properly cared for. I'm not a Peta whackjob. I don't think animals have *rights* but that it's our responsibility to see to their welfare.

Anyways. There was a circus in town. We've gone to another one, and it was nice. The animals were clean and had shade and access to water, and the handlers seemed kind and they appeared to be well treated.

This circus, I wasn't happy. When I got there, the area where we were to wait for the earlier performance to end was next to a trailer. The trailer had a fence around it, and a llama, young camel, mini donk, mini horse, and two young minis (one was nursing on the mare) were tied to the trailer, with the exception of the nursing baby who was loose. There was NO shade, and none of the animals had water.

The camel was weaving back and forth, and the llama looked like he was going to pass out. He was laying down, panting, with drool literally streaming from his mouth. The foal was laying down and his respiration was very high.

I saw a guy cleaning up after the ponies on the pony ride (who had shade) and I told him, nicely, that the llama looked like it needed a drink very badly.

He hollered at someone in Spanish and in a minute they appeared with a bucket of water. Gave the llama a drink, but ignored the donkey who was pulling at his rope to get to the water.

I decided that was rather unacceptable. If the llama was thirsty I'm sure all of the animals, with maybe the exception of the camel, were thirsty as well.I said (loudly) that the rest of the animals needed water as well. I asked why they weren't in shade, and one of the performers who happened to be there yelled for a guy and said he would answer my questions.

He came over with an immediate attitude, and asked what my problem was. I told him that the animals were thirsty, and they needed shade. He said that he gives them water three times a day. I told him that they need shade, and he said "Horses in a field don't have shade." No, but they DO have water!

So he waves his arms and tells me to come around the other side of the trailer where the llama had been taken. I go around and see the llama who has had a drink and is now lying in the shade. He's no longer panting or drooling. So I asked him "Why was the llama drooling?" He said it was from the sweet feed. I said "The llama isn't drooling now...is that from the sweet feed too?" He didn't answer but picked up a matted, dirty fllece lined halter and said "See this halter? I use this halter because I love the animals!"

We're both shouting at this point, and I told him if he loved the animals he'd give them water. I wish I'd gotten a picture of the zedonk (who happened to be a gorgeous animal, a cross between a donkey and a zebra) who stuck his head out of the trailer at this point. He had a lovely groove across his nose from that wonderful halter. I was pretty sure the guy wasn't going to stand for me taking pictures at this point (I do have pictures and video of the animlas without water).

He yells back "I give them water three times a day!" I asked him how many times a day he drinks. He stopped, shrugged, and said "Two times." I told him he must be better at being hydrated than I am because I need more than that.

At that point I asked for his USDA license number because I would like to file a complaint. He asked to see my "plate" which i think he was referring to a badge. I think he thought at this point that I was undercover or something. I told him "I'm just a citizen here and I want to file a complaint with the USDA." He told me "Without the police I don't have to tell you anything! And we reserve the right to refuse admission so you leave now!"

I told him I wasn't planning on giving any money to his circus if that's how they treat their animals anyways, and that I was going to the police. Unfortunately, the other people who had been standing there agreeing with me had no guts, and went in anyways.

I did go to the police. The officer said he'd go check it out and get back with me. I haven't heard from him yet but I'll go on Monday and follow up on it, and I'm also going to find out who issued the permit and I'm calling the USDA. The animals have basic welfare that wasn't being provided for. There was no excuse for especially that llama to be drooling and panting like that.