The Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted the return of the Walker Brothers Circus which had held performances in Springfield in summers past. The circus this year was set up next to Nortrax at 280 Clinton Street. An all new 2013 program delivered ninety minute of thrills and laughter in back to back shows, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Walker Brothers Circus is notorious for animal abuse and neglect as well as for flouting local regulations. This year, they tried to bring animals with untreated tuberculosis into the state until the Department of Agriculture stopped them. I am surprised that the Chamber of Commerce continues to do business with this shady operation. There are so many humane and truly family-friendly entertainment options, including circuses that do not exploit animals. Let's hope the Chamber of Commerce makes a better choice next year.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! If your kids want to see animals....bring them to a farm.
DeleteIf you went to this circus you supported animal abuse. If you sponsored this circus you supported animal abuse. The Chamber needs to reconsider their actions and present cruelty free entertainment to the town. They would have a better and bigger turn out and no animals would be abused. (It is all on the internet to check out and it is not only this particular circus. Some states have actually banned traveling circuses and Vermont should too)
DeleteNotorious? Really? If that is the case, how come there is no information about this on the internet? That is of course with the exception of someone who is spamming Facebook pages related to Springfield using the bogus name "Bird Brain" and a so-called "Action Alert" started by someone calling himself "Bravebird."
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 3:21, where is the proof of these accusations?
You can find the action alert, by VINE Sanctuary, online at http://blog.bravebirds.org/archives/1417, where you can also see contact information for the VT Department of Agriculture, which you can contact yourself to verify the facts about how this circus attempted to circumvent state regulations and bring sick animals into the state. Do some more digging online, and you will see that they have done the same in other states. You do need to dig, because they target small towns and rural areas, and Google rankings tend to privilege events in larger metropolitan areas.
DeleteYou can find the action alert, by VINE Sanctuary, online at http://blog.bravebirds.org/archives/1417, where you can also see contact information for the VT Department of Agriculture, which you can contact yourself to verify the facts about how this circus attempted to circumvent state regulations and bring sick animals into the state. Do some more digging online, and you will see that they have done the same in other states. You do need to dig, because they target small towns and rural areas, and Google rankings tend to privilege events in larger metropolitan areas.
ReplyDeleteNot only had I already seen that "Action Alert" I posted about it. It proves nothing other than someone calling themself "Bravebird" is posting the same allegations online as "Bird Brain" from Facebook in the same time frame.
ReplyDeleteThe only hard evidence I could find of any violations by this company was by the USDA in 2004. I also found a new story from Maine which is not about the Walker Brothers circus to the effect that the state of Maine requires a TB test for that the USDA no longer administers. http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Tuberculosis-test-deny-elephants-entrance-into-Maine.html The story also notes that the animal had had a TB test, just not the one that the Maine state veterinarian required. So - still no proof yet.
These are some of the things I witnessed and experienced while at this circus in Springfield:
ReplyDeleteInappropriate attire of the horse and pony trainer - this was a family event.
Charged $3.00 for a bottle of Shaw's water when you can buy a case of 24 for $2.99.
The outside tents were being removed as the show continued,very distracting.
Ringmaster announcing they needed help to take down the tents, it was an easy job, if anyone interested to stay after the show and they paid real well. CASH. Pretty tacky, I thought.
Last and the most troubling:
The man that did the acrobatics with the chairs was selling balloons after the show to children and was drunk, high on some narcotic, his eyes rolling back in his head, he could hardly stand up. He was ripping people off when paying and not giving back the correct change. This happened to a friend I was with and when I approached him and saw his condition I decided to call the police..wait did I say the most troubling was this, well I was wrong. Calling the Springfield PD was useless, they were more interested in who I was, the dispatcher said she would send a sheriff and that never happened. What happened to "Not In Our Town". Needless to say I was very disappointed to know that the Chamber hired this circus to make money for themselves while countless of families were being ripped off that night. $16.50 for each adult children were free, they should be for that price.
Thank you for calling the police even though they did nothing and thank you for posting your observations. I hope this deters others from ever going to a circus! That is one of the reasons why I do not and will not go.
Delete7:07 AM, who forced you to attend?
ReplyDeleteAre you also one of those people who complain when they go to a restaurant when the side salad costs $5.99 but the lettuce only costs $1.49 for an entire head?
It's pretty common for a circus to hire locals to help with the setup and teardown of the tents. Apparently you'd rather they handle everything as opposed to hiring locals. Sheesh maybe you'd enjoy a public execution more than a circus! You would probably be allowed to bring your own plastic bottle with tap water.
Hi Jean or is that John
ReplyDeleteYou must miss McDonald's. Poor you.