EVERETT – The Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey Circus is pulling into town this week, and with it a handful of protesting animal welfare groups.
The Progressive Animal Welfare Society of Lynnwood and other animal rights groups plan to protest before and during each of the circus performances.
PAWS, along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Northwest Animal Rights Network, will be in front of the Everett Events Center passing out brochures to circus-goers and ticket buyers.
PAWS spokeswoman Zibby Wilder said she hopes the campaign will not only change minds, but also prevent the circus from ever returning to Everett or Washington state.
“If they didn’t come back, it would be a victory for animals, not us,” Wilder said. “Or even if one person looks at our literature and says ‘I can’t go to this.’”
The animal welfare groups have a laundry list of complaints against Ringling Bros. and other circuses.
Wilder said PAWS objects to circuses keeping wild and exotic animals captive for entertainment. Many circuses, including Ringling Bros., subject animals to a variety of abuses, the group claims.
“We’re giving information so people can make a more informed decision next time,” Wilder said.
The protestors have a right to their free speech, said Ringling Bros. spokeswoman Melinda Rosser.
“Most of that information is not correct,” Rosser said. “They glom and put all circuses in the same pile as Ringling Brothers. What happens at one circus does not happen at all.”
Animal rights protestors are nothing new for the circus.
“Always, garbage cans on the way in … are filled with their material. Their money is being used for printed materials that are going in the garbage. How is that helping animals?” Rosser said.
“If people have already purchased tickets, they’re ready to see the greatest show on earth and spend some quality family time together.”
But Wilder said the printed materials are key to promoting education on the humane treatment of animals.
“All we hand out is the facts. We want them to think about it,” Wilder said. “We live in an area that’s known for its wildlife awareness. The circus is no different – those animals need to be cared for and protected.”
One of the handouts is a circus coloring book for children. It shows elephants in chains, bears in costume and a tiger jumping through a flaming hoop.
Rosser said the coloring book is yet another example of lumping circuses together – Ringling Bros. has no bears, no fire hoops and no animals wearing clothing.
“In the movie ‘The Greatest Show on Earth,’ yes – all that’s in there,” Rosser said. “But that was back in the ’50s.”
After the circus announced it was coming to town, PAWS also wrote to local leaders, the events center and circus sponsors and advertisers asking them to think twice.
The only response, Wilder said, came from the owner of Brien Motors in Everett.
The car dealership’s radio ads regularly feature upcoming Everett Events Center performances, including the circus.
“After reading about the treatment of animals by circuses, I agree with you that we … should not be associated with that type of activity,” wrote owner Rock Peterson.
The dealership wouldn’t be associated with the circus in the future, he wrote.
Capt. Greg Lineberry of the Everett Police Department said he met with PAWS to go over protest guidelines.
“Any type of protest involves some degree of emotion. That’s why people are there,” Lineberry said. “Sometimes they get carried away. By laying out those guidelines in advance it goes a long way to ensure a safe, secure event.”
Lineberry said he’s not expecting any problems, but that police will be ready should any clashes arise.
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
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