‘My son was petrified’: Mum calls for a ban on circuses using animals

 

A mum from Mullingar, Co. Westmeath is calling on the public to stop going to circuses that use animals “in any way”, after a horrifying experience.

 

Mum-of-two Nicole Matthews was witness to cruel treat of three elephants in her town used to advertise a local circus, and took to Facebook to highlight the mis-treatment of these animals in particular. 

 

“Today, 23rd February 2016 in Mullingar, Ireland, three adult elephants were paraded as living advertisement for a circus here in town. Without any Garda presence for safety. Without any regard for public safety. Without any barriers or distance between them and the milling, giddy, loud, poking and prodding crowd [sic],” she wrote.

 

 

Her children were not only terrified but also upset about the treatment of the animals, and she added: “If my seven- and five-year-old know this is dreadfully wrong...why can't others???[sic]."

 

The mum wasn’t going to just sit back and let the handlers get away with their mistreatment, and insisted on making her feelings known.

 

“I held back my tears for these innocent animals and gave them my voice: ‘We will not be going to your circus. Not until you set all these innocent animals free and have people as entertainment, acrobats, gymnasts, not until then." 

 

The handlers response, however, was heartbreaking, as he said: "But it's good for me".

 

 

The ISCPA have launched their The Big Stop campaign, calling for an immediate ban of wild animals in circuses. The campaign comes after two Dutch circuses recently travelled to Ireland following a ban in the Netherlands.

 

The ISPCA warn Ireland risks becoming a “dumping ground” for wild animals “as more and more EU countries introduce bans on this out-dated and cruel practice.”

 

Help them stop this cruelty by signing their petition here.

 

SHARE to get as many signatures as possible to ban this outdated practice.