DUFFY CIRCUS RINGMASTER Threatens protestor– Id take bits out of you!

national | animal rights | press release

Monday June 22, 2009 17:36

by Bernie Wright - Alliance for Animal Rights, Aliberation and Circuswatch combined

allianceforanimalrights at gmail dot com

PO Box 4734. Dublin.1

0872651720 /0863248765/0863985761/

Duffys Circus face a week of protests,over confined imprisoned animals

A week of protests organised by Aliberation and supported by AFAR at Duffys Circus in Whitehall has resulted in activists being threatened by aggressive circus owners. One activist was held by the neck and told…..‘IF I GET YOU ALONE DO YOU KNOW WHAT ID DO TO YOU-ID TAKE BITS OUT OF YOU!’

Despite this veiled threat yesterday (Saturday) which resulted in official Gardai statements* todays protestors witnessed more provocations and an attempt by circus staff to instigate a melee and steal flyers which were being distributed outside the circus. A video camera was grabbed by Circus staff but was held on to whilst posters were also grabbed. However, support from passers-by was excellent with some people turning back and not attending the circus at all, passing cars honked support. Duffys have Bengal tigers and a Lion caged at their site in Whitehall.
Duffys continue to exploit big cats despite their caged animals ripping the arms off of a manon their Galway site in the nineties. Ireland has at least 8 attacks on record from animals in the circus, 5 from chained monkeys, one elephant attack (as a circus worker was beating it) and the tiger attack by 3 of Duffys Bengal tigers.
We protest at the use of animals by circuses. Confinement in beast wagons of tigers and lions that are in Circuses result in sad, deranged and psychotic animals.
Because animal acts are neither educational nor uplifting. Instead, they warp our perceptions of animals, desensitize us to the animals' real nature and needs, and in the process, diminish us as human beings.
Because all animals, non-human and human alike, share one basic right: the right to live their lives freely and in harmony with their own nature. Circuses clearly deny animals that right.
The circus demeans animals, robbing them of their natural dignity. We oppose animal violations.

We can just imagine how the unfortunate animals are treated, having seen the aggression displayed towards protesters. Duffys wild animals are kept in Agricultural buildings or barns from November to February every year at their winter quarters in Navan. Training of circus animals is behind closed doors and many expose’s have shown the use of electrodes, whipping implements and beatings from Circus trainers. The most viscious being the cruelty of the renowned Chipperfields Circus which resulted in multiple prosecutions of Mary Chipperfield .
Despite Circus staff aggression and threats , demonstrations to highlight the plight of wild animals by Duffys circus will continue.

*Whitehall Gardai for complaints.