New Cole Brothers Circus visit has found the below problems.

1.  High diving cat show - Cat jumps off small wood platform near top of tent top into a small pillow trainer holds up.  Cat was in Tim Burton's film, "Big Fish.".  The USDA was notified about this this year and last.  They state no violations exist as cat has option to not jump (How it gets down no one said)  and that unless the cat misses pillow they can do nothing, as they have no past reports that any cat did miss landing on it. 

 

A [private veterinarian  that deals with circus issues] also looked at the cat act and said he saw nothing wrong.   

 

2.  Tiger cages - At least two tigers were brought into ring that could hardly lift heads above their backbones, and were pressing heads and bodies against cages to try and get into normal body positions.  As the circus has been trying to hide animals kept in back from public view, it could not be determined if they are in bigger cages, and smaller ones are used just to take them into show ring or not.  If they are the regular all time cages, they are in clear violation of USDA standards.

 

3.  Tiger ring-  It appears that the tigers are within cage top distance to jump out if they wanted to when the are on their stands. A tiger that can jump 20 feet almost straight up.

The stands put them within that distance.  USDA does not want to get involved in that issue.

 

 

It may be just rumor, but watch out for possible name change from New Cole Brothers Circus, to American Circus name in future.

 

Poughkeepsie, NY 7/2 - 7/4 -  Dutches County SPCA  845-452-SPCA (7722)

 

Flushing Meadows, NY Corona Park  7/5 - 7/8   NYC Park  ASPCA  212 876 - 7700 

Brookllyn, NY  Marine Park  7/19 - 7/25  NYC Park            ASPCA  212 876 - 7700 

Staten Island, NY Midland Beach Park  7/19 - 7/25   NYC Park   ASPCA  212 876-7700

Forest Park, NY Bandshell parking lot 7/26 - 8/1 NYC Park   ASPCA  212 876-7700

NOTE - NY City Parks Dept http://www.nycgovparks.org/contact_us/html/contact.html

 

SUFFOLK COUNTY -

Southhampton, NY 8/2 - 8/3                 Sufolk County SPCA 

Lake Grove Smith Haven Mall 8/4 - 8/8     Sufolk County SPCA

Greenport, NY 8/9 - 8/10                         Suffolk County SPCA            

Middle Island, NY  8/11 - 8/13                 Sufolk County SPCA

Note - Past experience has shown no co-operation from the Suffolk County SPCA in

wanting to correct circus problems, and they have engaged in questionable activities in the past when dealing with animal exhibitors.