Travelling circus set to spark protest
ANIMAL rights protesters have targeted the town next month to demonstrate against a planned circus.
Activists from the Edinburgh-based animal welfare group Bunny Huggers, who regularly campaign across Scotland, will be protesting against Zippo's Circus on August 1.
They have scheduled a free bus from the capital, while their numbers are also expected to be boosted by protesters from Glasgow and the Borders.
The circus is one of only eight throughout Britain which uses animals and features four horses as part of their show, as well as performing budgies.
And while the owners of the popular circus maintain that all animals are looked after, chairman of Bunny Huggers, Varda Mahrotra, said their inclusion was wrong.
She told the Hawick News: "We'll be coming from all different parts of Scotland. There will be people in costumes, a lot of leafleting, banners and placards as we try to raise awareness of the fact that animals are still being used in circuses and this is not what the Scottish public wants."
The circus, which is touring the whole of the United Kingdom, is due to visit Hawick from July 31 to August 3 and will be based in the Common Haugh.
Chris Barltrop, from Zippo's, said: "We don't believe this protest will represent the views of the general public, but of politically-motivated activists."
He revealed that their circus is regularly visited by animal welfare inspectors and also by inspectors from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
He added: "The circus-going public universally praise Zippos' animal care. However, that doesn't mean the animal campaign organisations are satisfied.
"The campaigners' view is that animals shall not be in the circus, and they make outlandish claims of ill-treatment to justify their views. Anyone who visits the circus can see how the animals are actually kept and treated."
At the start of the tour of Scotland an SSPCA inspection was carried out with regard to the welfare and transportation of the animals.
And in his report, Michael Flynn, chief superintendent of the SSPCA, said: "I have no concern over the welfare or care of any of the horses, ponies or budgerigars on site and I am happy with the transport available for the animals."
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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