Animal circus signs vandalised (From Bucks Free Press)
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Extremists thought to have targeted High Wycombe circus signs
1:10pm Tuesday 12th May 2009 in News By Oliver Evans
Animal circus signs vandalised
SIGNS have been vandalised advertising the first animal circus on High Wycombe council land since the lifting of a 17-year ban.
A circus boss suspects animal rights extremists targeted the eight signs, placed on The Rye on Friday, over the weekend.
The acronym ALF was sprayed on the signs. The Animal Liberation Front is an extremist group which condones attacks on property.
Zippos Circus brings horses and budgerigars to The Rye from May 28 to June 2 for the first time since 1992.
It is the first time an animal circus has been allowed on Wycombe District Council land since the authority lifted a ban on it this year.
The move was opposed by the RSPCA and split councillors who were given a free vote on the issue (see links, below).
Zippos circus spokesman Chris Barltrop called the attack “pathetic and childish”.
He said: “It shows the mentality of the ALF, that they have no respect for other people’s opinion.
“If you disagree they will bully you to make you conform. They are nasty violent people.”
He said the circus knew there was a risk the signs would be vandalised.
Thames Valley Police said it had received no report of the attacks.
Yet he said: “One has to advertise one’s event.
“We thought somebody might come and rip them down or break the boards, we didn’t expect it to happen to this extent.”
The ALF condones breaking the law to free animals and destroying property “in order to prevent further harm done to animals and to weaken exploitation industries economically”.
The circus says animals will be housed at the front of the circus in a bid to reassure the public.
The Bucks Free Press has made attempts to contact the ALF – which uses cells to avoid detection – for comment.
District council members said in February that the 17-year-old ban for animals such as ponies and dogs could be lifted because new laws would protect animal welfare.
Council officers recommended overturning the ban and said the authority could inspect visiting circuses.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs “is not aware of any viable concerns” that domestic animals should not be used in circuses, they reported.
But Animal Defenders International, which fought the move, said the mobile nature of circuses meant they “simply cannot provide animals with the facilities they need to keep them healthy, either physically or psychologically”.
There is no ban on animal circuses on private land prior to the vote, which means council parks and other open spaces can be used for animal circuses.
Comments(19)
TheT0nemeister
says...
1:18pm Tue 12 May 09
SDJones
says...
1:32pm Tue 12 May 09
Low_Wycombe
says...
2:48pm Tue 12 May 09
As for a travelling circus, this isn’t the 1800’s no one thinks a dancing horse is entertainment…
erm
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4:20pm Tue 12 May 09
even better if we can have budgie rides
aug69
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7:28pm Tue 12 May 09
yog
says...
9:42pm Tue 12 May 09
Hit me
says...
11:34pm Tue 12 May 09
ANYONE therefore who thinks they can break the law to discourage it / prevent it / make people stay away should be prosecuted. In my opinion, they should be tried under the terrorism act rather than as petty criminals, as their actions are comparable.
To whom it may concern:
You have the right to protest. You have the right to make your opinion known. You dont have the right to take things that dont belong to you. Or vandalise anything. Or steal. Or make people afraid of your actions. You dont even have the right to make me listen to you. Accept it. Its the free world that allows you to SPEAK your opinion. If everyone tried to force their point of view, it would cease to exist.
Put simply, this kind of protest is self destructive. The second one protest wins (regardelss of subject) the very rights that allow protest will be under threat.
So please, stop wrecking the signs. Instead, why not take a sugar cube for the horses, and smoke some grass for the sheep...
aug69
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1:09am Wed 13 May 09
TheT0nemeister
says...
9:29am Wed 13 May 09
Crime Roundup:
Car broken into Sat Nav stolen.
Bicycle wheel stolen from moped.
3 budgerigars stolen burglar made off on a horse.
Clown missing whereabouts unknown.
The Oracle
says...
9:52am Wed 13 May 09
Low_Wycombe wrote:Who put you in a position to speak on everyone else's behalf? Your arrogance absolutely beggars belief. I, for one, find dancing horses VERY entertaining. Just like I find dancing bears entertaining (perhaps even more so), and badger baiting entertaining.
If anyone wants to see animals performing on the Rye simply walk around the open air pool – rats galore…
As for a travelling circus, this isn’t the 1800’s no one thinks a dancing horse is entertainment…
We'll not all animal lovers, although i'm sure most of those who profess to be (just because they like cats or dogs - both idiotic creatures) will quite happily sit down and eat a bargain basement chicken or burger without thinking twice about the suffering those animals endured - fattening themselves on cheap meat from Asda up watching "Pet Rescue" on TV. The hypocrisy is jaw-dropping.
We rule this planet. Animals are there for food, or entertainment - be that dancing bears, badger baiting or dog fighting. I mean, let's be honest, what's more funny - watching a cat play with a ball of yarn, or sticking a firework up it's behind?
I'm going to every night at Zippos: family entertainment at it's very best.
TheT0nemeister
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10:42am Wed 13 May 09
The Oracle
says...
11:57am Wed 13 May 09
TheT0nemeister wrote:Clearly you suffix your truly banal comments with "Lol" to indicate that what you are saying is indeed a joke.
Maybe you and your family should join the circus, you sounds like a right bunch of clowns! Lol.
I guarantee you were the only one laughing at your last two horrific attempts at humour.
The only reason I would join the circus would be to jab horses with a pointy stick until they danced for me, then i'd stick them on the barbeque once i'd seen enough.
paul_thomas
says...
12:03pm Wed 13 May 09
Animals don’t belong in a circus. The constant transportation from town to town for ten months each year and confinement for long periods means that a travelling circus can never meet all of the needs of these animals, whether elephants, lions, tigers or horses.
Claims by circuses that animals are stimulated by performances are false. In fact, the same tricks are generally repeated for years.
Animals are trained away from the scrutiny of the public, politicians or welfare groups. Undercover investigations at circuses in the UK have revealed animals beaten with sticks, bars and whips and sick animals hidden from the RSPCA.
There is no educational value in seeing these once proud animals reduced to performing tricks in an unnatural environment. Circuses teach a lack of respect for animals.
CAPS is not opposed to circuses, only to the use of animals, and we encourage people to avoid animal circuses and instead visit one of the many excellent shows that rely entirely on human skills.
We also ask people to write to their MP, asking them to encourage the government to ban the use of animals in circuses.
Circuses YES, Animals NO.
Paul Thomas
Campaigns assistant
The Captive Animals' Protection Society
Manchester
www.captiveanimals.o
rg
Registered charity in England and Wales. Number 1124436
TheT0nemeister
says...
12:04pm Wed 13 May 09
The Oracle wrote:I am deeply saddened by you calling my last 2 jokes "horrific attempts at humour" I didn't realise no other readers found my humour funny
TheT0nemeister wrote: Maybe you and your family should join the circus, you sounds like a right bunch of clowns! Lol.Clearly you suffix your truly banal comments with "Lol" to indicate that what you are saying is indeed a joke. I guarantee you were the only one laughing at your last two horrific attempts at humour. The only reason I would join the circus would be to jab horses with a pointy stick until they danced for me, then i'd stick them on the barbeque once i'd seen enough.
:-(
Horseradish
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1:48pm Wed 13 May 09
Horseradish
says...
1:49pm Wed 13 May 09
Horseradish
says...
1:51pm Wed 13 May 09
The Oracle
says...
10:29am Thu 14 May 09
Horseradish wrote:Why? Because my views differ from your own? At least I can spell. It's never too late to get an education.
The Oracle, you disgust me. Your comments on this artical should be removed.
I'd like Zippo's to broaden their horizons and consider cooking the horses, alive, over a big fire once they have finished their act. All the kids could sit round and sing songs and enjoy their delicious meat. It could really bring the community together. Something sorely lacking these days what with our lax border controls and immigration laws.
TheT0nemeister says...
1:14pm Tue 12 May 09