Prestot, CT USA absolutely. in fact, if i ever happen to attend a circus that does not include at least 3 trained animals in the show, i will kill god. Aaron, 22
VA USA Why not? If they're well treated. Judy, 62
Easton, KS USA I feel so bad for them. I think its funny, though, that we talk about whether they should be in the circus when there are other animals that we actually eat. Eric, 20
Beverly Hills, CA USA Actually, I went to the circus last year and thought about this very topic. I noticed the small cages some of the animals were kepts in and it just struck me as .. i don't know the word for it... it just struck me. I guess, when I was younger, I didn't think about it, now I can't really say that I like the idea of it. Doug2, 29
Overland Park, KS USA I honestly don't know. As long as they're not being abused, I don't see a problem with them doing anything. Nicci, 27
Las Vegas, NV USA Only if they tell us they want to take part. Jane, 62
West Linn, OR USA While I love seeing animals and knowing all I can about them, I don't think they should be exploited in this manner. Especially knowing the conditions in which they are kept. Triana, 29
Austin, TX USA I asked this question and thought that I knew exactly how I would answer it. But know I don't know. There should be no trained lions, tigers, bears, elephants, and definitely no primates but I think some animals - like dogs - seem to LOVE to perform. Reba, 50+
Silver Spring, MD USA Only ones I don't feel bad about are the horses. Big cats and elephants seem very sad. Especially the elephants. They are huge animals meant to roam large grassy plains. Spending their lives cooped up in small barns is not pleasant. I can understand why the occasional elephant goes bezerk and goes on a kililng spree. There is nothing sadder than seeing an elephant in circus ring. Felicia, 36
Lowell, MA USA They're fun to look at, but I always wonder what the trainer had to do to get the animals into submission. Hell, I can't even housebreak my chihuahua, so I know they must be usuing some pretty fowl methods to get the elephants and lions to do their bidding. Keri-Jade, 21
Brampton, Ontario CANADA Firstly, i DO NOT agree with animals being forced into performing just for our "entertainment". Zoos and wildlife parks are different, as they help breed and give people information about the conservation of these animals. All circuses and the such should be outlawed, (well those with animals). Many may have heard of Steve Irwin, (he is well known in USA, I know that much), anyway he is an Aussie who ensures that all animals are treated fairly. He is my role model. Anyway that's my opinion for today's question. I hope your replies were the same. Brad, 21
Sydney AUSTRALIA I don't like circuses anyway, so if I were changing things I'd just get rid of them. Clowns are scary, and it's not nice to make nonhuman animals do tricks. Personally, I think the elephants and lions should smack everybody around. Acrobats are kind of cool, though. You never see a trapeze anywhere else, really. Karen, 22
Ames, IA USA Well, you know, it's funny this question came up because I recently attended a circus for the first time since I was child. I was extremely disturbed by the use of the trained animals. They seemed sad, slow...apethetic...they were obviously getting no joy out of performing. I definately, after that display, think trained animals should be a thing of the past in present day circuses. We should be so beyond that by now! Tam It wouldn't be the circus without the animals. It would be an empty ring. Laura, 37
Lowell, MA USA If they are very ethically taken care of its ok, but most circuses abuse their animals. Talia, 24
Wilton, CT USA I'd say no personally. Ryan, 28
Riedlingen GERMANY If they're being treated well, I don't see why not. Unfortunately, most of them are kept in too small cages and forced to do things that are either harmful to them or against their nature, and they are even antagonized. So ideally, it's okay, but in reality, it's not. Cancer, 20
NYC, NY USA