Circus Self Regulation

For whatever reason a comment I made on rodeo self regulation versus efforts by the circus industry failed to make the grade with Buckles. As I think they're valid points, I'll try to repeat them here. The circus industry has a long history of failing to speak with a single voice -- from the Showmen's League with Bill Cody as President to various Producers Associations. Several years ago many circus people hoped that OABA might become a body promoting self regulation of animal related issues, but OABA's animal standards are voluntary. I noted that when Santa Clara County in California recently considered a circus/rodeo ban, it took only phone call to get PRCA to put a high ranking official on an airplane to CA to attend a local hearing on the proposed ban. OABA has no similar support function, nor a staff member associated with circus with any kind of budget for travel. I stated that only Feld is committed financially to fighting legislative attacks on circus wherever they arise. (Though Carson & Barnes has never hesitated to pay for me to address such issues along their route.) I suggested that part of the problem is that even circus owners who go the extra mile to take good care of their animals seem hesitant to condemn circus owners who don't, in part because the "good guys" continue to lease animal acts to the "bad guys," safeguarding their animals by sending along qualified caretakers. Essentially there is a profit motive attached to allowing bad guys to continue operating. And finally I worried that circus owners and producers can nickel and dime a good idea to death. PETA raises millions of dollars a year, but to date not only have circus operators failed to create a self regulatory body with the teeth to enforce rule -- it's hard to imagine the 12-15 potential circus members of such a body ponying up the relatively small sum of $100,000-$150,000 that would be necessary to open a two person office and provide for travel both to address legislative issues and to visit circuses to investigate rules violations or to certify compliance. Frankly I would love see a set of "model standards" drafted by the likes of Wade Burck, or John Herriot, or Buckles Woodcock. Tough enough to ensure genuine animal welfare, realistic enough to allow shows willing to comply to continue presenting animal acts. It's easy to say that "rodeo has a larger audience" but in point of fact millions of people continue to attend circuses every year. And if circuses set the bar for animal care high enough, circus goers will likely sign on in supporting a continuation of such efforts.

Ben