Having visited Zippos at Peckham last night, and reading the above thread, I would like to reassure everyone, that there has never been any cruelty at Zippos, and that awful, website is total lies, trying to put negative thoughts into peoples minds. Zippos is the UK's top circus, featuring domestic animals, 4 beautiful horses, 2 gorgeous ponies, and some lively and very entertaining budgies presented (well if you call it that!) by the 'World's Greatest Ringmaster' Norman Barrett, who was recently awarded the MBE. Circuses are easy targets for the vociferous animal rights groups, who are trying to brain wash everyone, for political points! If the truth be known, these groups would have compulsary vegetarianism, ban pets, ban police horses, ban fishing, infact ban all human contact with animals. People are ofcourse entitles to their opinions,but spreading untrues & lies as these people do is unacceptable in my books. I have been a supporter of Zippos Circus for many years now, being captured by its magic many years ago, and would stand behind it 100% for its extremely high animal welfare & husbandry & care. The horses and budgies are loved & cherished parts of the circus family. The horses have their own large stable units, and are practiced and perform most days, and are regulalrly exercised/pastured, they really are cared for, with 24 hour grooms on site! The circus has nothing to hide, hence why the horse are stabled at the front of the circus, where everyone can see how content they are. Ofcourse these groups call for the banning of animals in the circus, and to be perfectly honest it would be easier for the circus to not have animals, but they choose to because they want to, they are the real animal lovers, being committed to look after and care for them, not an easy or cheap task either, with grooms, food, hay, transport, vets bills etc. The animal rights groups argue that the animals are only being used for profit. Well to me that says, if the circus is making profits because of animals, it is because people DO want to see them, infact tens of thousands of people see Zippos circus and enjoy it every year, people vote with their feet, and that says it all. If people did not want to see the beautiful animals at Zippos, or suspected animal cruelty, they would not go, and the circus would close down. The opposite is the case, and from what I see, Zippos is more popular than ever! So please, ignore the lies spread by the vociferous few, go to Zippos and see for yourself how well cared for the animals are, you won't regret it! It really is a great, modern and very enjoyable show!
