THE BALLOON MAN

Cole Bros. Circus reacts to criticism of animal treatment as it heads to Manville
Written by Sergio Bichao
from: mycentraljersey.com
Jul 31, 2012
MANVILLE — Are animals at a traveling East Coast circus being mistreated?

An official for Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars is asking potential spectators to come see for themselves.

The DeLand, Fla.-based circus — with its tigers, French poodles, elephants and human acrobats — is scheduled to stop Thursday and Friday at Gerber Field on Dukes Parkway East in Manville to raise money for the fire department.

Trailing the big-top operation are persistent accusations of mistreatment filed by animal rights activists at the People for Ethical Treatment for Animals.

The circus company in April settled with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over complaints filed by PETA in 2006 and 2007 alleging mistreatment of two Asian elephants, which were later taken into federal custody and moved to the San Diego Zoo.

The circus company and its owner, John W. Pugh, were ordered to pay a $15,000 civil penalty without admitting any wrongdoing.

A year ago, Pugh was sentenced to three years of probation with 100 hours of community service and $5,200 in fines after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Beaumont, Texas, to violating the Endangered Species Act by selling the same two elephants, named Tina and Jewel.

Cole Bros. Vice President Renee Storey said Tuesday the settlement was “a business decision” and not a “finding of any violation.”

“We have very strict guidelines for responsible animal care. There are lots of eyes on the animal trainers. Out people are good people who do no tolerate animal abuse,” Storey said.

“The public has the opportunity to see exactly how the animals are cared for at our circus,” Storey said, adding that the public is invited free of charge to watch animals being unloaded and cared for on the morning of opening day.

The settlement followed a 2006 complaint by PETA citing an Animal Welfare Act violations by Cole Bros. and John “Gopher” Davenport, who had illegally purchased two elephants from the circus.

Cole Bros. has not owned its own animals since 2007. The circus now contracts with animal owners and trainers who travel with the circus, Storey said.
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