DUP man calls halt to circus acts

DUP representative Robin Newton has called on visitors to the Odyssey Arena to boycott "the unnatural treatment of animals" at this year's Circus Vegas.

The East Belfast councillor said that Belfast City Council had received reports about the "suffering of circus animals", and that over the years a number of documentaries and reports had revealed how circus animals have been cruelly treated in order to force them to do tricks.

"These circus animals are in an unnatural environment and traveling from location to location in locked and confined cages can only be stressful and distressing," Mr Newton said.

"It is the paying public visiting the circus that allows the circus tradition to continue ensuring future unnatural treatment of animals.

"There is no evidence that Circus Vegas are cruel to their animals. Regardless of this, when amusement is at the expense of forced, unnatural and stressful experiences to noble and beautiful animals it is time to call a halt," he concluded.

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