Circus Anyone?

[tm8634]

i had seen a article on this same kinda thing and come to find out it was (not sure about this one) years old and they had got in trouble about it and had since changed there training...but again idk about this one...

 

[tm8634]

Guys I worked for a circus

FOR or IN? RN that may explain a lot...i feel like im in one around here at times...

 

[RickN]

FOR or IN? RN that may explain a lot...i feel like im in one around here at times...

Yea I know, an old girlfriend used to joke I was the only person she knew that every really ran away and join a circus.

It is where I got my love of big cats. They had a male lion that was so old he had lost his mane. The cat loved having his ears scratched but had hurt some people through the years that were careless. Needless to say no one wanted to reach into his cage and scratch him. We found a solution one day when he was laying in his cage facing the back and I scratched his ears for him. From then on when he wanted scratched he would lay facing the back so I had time to step back if he tried to roll over.

 

[MyMonkey]

Ok folks. Simmer down now. Apparently I got all worked up over the initial appearance of the photos like many others as I am sure and as is intended. After a bit further investigation it appears as though this is not the greatest thing on earth for the elephants to be doing. (Pun intended) But may not be as cruel as it appears regarding the babies. Looking at the faces on many of the trainers, they seem to be happy and encouraging the elephant.

However, I am on the fence about the main witness used here by PETA, Sam Haddock. Apparently Sam was a trainer for many years who admitted to much cruel behavior. However, he died and can not attest to what is truly going on in the photos. Further, it appears the photos depict acts from many years ago and such practices have allegedly been adjusted.

Not sure what to think anymore about the pics. Sorry to have dumped it here.

The video is the one that chaps me. I realize these are massive animals. I also realize the trainers slapping the hell out of them are jackasses just bitter to have been picked on as kids. Speculation of course.

Justify all you want here but these elephants don't seem to be doing anything wrong and they are reacting to the strikes as though it is painful. A few scream out. Just makes me feel like avoiding the circus frankly. At the same time, I understand you have to show the animals who is boss so to speak. Otherwise, they will look at you and pee on the floor. Love that line.

Debate on.

 

[jeffsoward]

...Just makes me feel like avoiding the circus frankly....

I haven't been to a circus in many MANY years, partially due to the animals. I don't find it entertaining.

 

[Danny Tanner]

I have seen full grown elephants ram heads together with enough force to completely flatten a human with no damage what so ever.

As for the babies, you need to understand what is happening before you jump to conclusions. You are taking the word of someone with an agenda when he says they are being abused. I see no abuse outside of the one with the hotshot and having seen baby elephants bowl people over when they get excited, in several cases really hurting someone, I would want to know the whole story before I condemn them. Most of the time it is lightly passed over the skin in a stroking motion.

The only time I have seen a baby elephant really hotshotted was when the mother rejected it but the baby kept trying to nurse. The mother was trying to kill it but the baby did not understand and it took a lot to get the baby away.

I understand that the trainers aren't breaking the skin of the animals, but cracking them in the head a few times for what appears to be no reason at all is wrong. I'm also not sure what benefit is to be had by tying a baby elephant to the ground by all 4 legs.

I try to take everything with a grain of salt, but the videos and pictures speak for themselves.

I haven't been to a circus in many MANY years, partially due to the animals. I don't find it entertaining.

I haven't either for the same reason. I remember a few years ago at the state fair they had a tiger show going on for the crowd. We were walking by, saw it, and decided to stop and watch for a few minutes. The trainer was getting all 3 tigers to roll over at the same time while the crowd just "awwwww"'d. I guess I was the only one who was thinking "well of course they're going to roll over when you're beating the piss out of them with your whip!", which he was and I didn't see anything cute or aww-worthy about it.

 

[MyMonkey]

I haven't been to a circus in many MANY years, partially due to the animals. I don't find it entertaining.

Don't the kids just bug you about going though Jeff? Mine does.

 

[JRSherman]

Well, all I can say is that this still wouldn't prevent me from taking kids to the circus.

Kids need to learn about the joys of life early in life. They'll find out about the evils and horrors of life later on, regardless of how protected you try to keep them.

As far as using hot-shots goes, you really need to be hit by one to understand that it definitely depends on the size of the animal in question as to how much it hurts them. I have been zapped, and it hurt like hell.

I have used them on cows, calves, yearlings, and they notice it. I've used it on a few bulls, though, that just stand there looking at you like "Is that all? Seriously, I've got stuff to do. . . " and it doesn't affect them at all. Judging by what they classify as "hot shots" I didn't see any with a battery capacity more than a few AA batteries though. . .

 

[RickN]

Guys I should mention that elephants have very, very thick skulls. They use them to push down trees and we used them to push loaded 18 wheelers out of the mud. This was when the trucks were buried to the axles and even a bulldozer could not get them out.

I do not like the idea of mistreating any animal, even the dumb 2 legged kind, but if you whack an elephant in the skull with a bullhook all it does is annoy the elephant and sometimes scares them. There are several sensitive spots on elephants but the skull is not one of them.

Watch this and it will give you some idea,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaJ0CXLu1to

 

[BadgeBunny]

As far as using hot-shots goes, you really need to be hit by one to understand that it definitely depends on the size of the animal in question as to how much it hurts them. I have been zapped, and it hurt like hell.

I have used them on cows, calves, yearlings, and they notice it. I've used it on a few bulls, though, that just stand there looking at you like "Is that all? Seriously, I've got stuff to do. . . " and it doesn't affect them at all. Judging by what they classify as "hot shots" I didn't see any with a battery capacity more than a few AA batteries though. . .

Times a bazillon ... my brother and I used to play this game ... it involved my dad's hotshots, water and metal tubing ... Hey, what can I say ... veterinarian's kids are warped ... We used to get in trouble for running the batteries dead.

Guys I should mention that elephants have very, very thick skulls. They use them to push down trees and we used them to push loaded 18 wheelers out of the mud. This was when the trucks were buried to the axles and even a bulldozer could not get them out.

I do not like the idea of mistreating any animal, even the dumb 2 legged kind, but if you whack an elephant in the skull with a bullhook all it does is annoy the elephant and sometimes scares them. There are several sensitive spots on elephants but the skull is not one of them.

Watch this and it will give you some idea,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaJ0CXLu1to

Well, pooey ... you're no fun ...