ALBERTON- The McLaren Circus is currently in Alberton and causing a debate from residents and the SPCA. After a resident phoned the NSPCA in Alberton and complained that the wild animals did not have enough shade or water, the RECORD visited the circus.
Arnold Dickson, the operations manager at McLaren for the past four years, says they are required to renew their licence every 12 months. The Performing Animals Protection Amendment Bill (PAPA) requires that an executive officer visit any premises to assess the suitability thereof for animal training and the licence may be suspended or withdrawn if the applicant no longer complies to any condition subject to which the licence was issued. The bill also allows for the SPCA or officer of the law to inspect the premises at any time.
Isabel Wentzel from the NSPCA says that McLaren Circus does have a licence and, according to the law, they are not doing anything wrong.
“The NSPCA desires to have greater input into the conditions set out in the licence but this has not yet transpired.” The protest group, Ban Animal Trading, regularly protests against the circus when it comes to town. Arnold says they also protest against pet shops and the zoo.
Casey McCoy, the animal trainer at McLaren, raised the McLaren tigers from the time they were babies. He clearly loves the animals he works with. “I started training animals at the age of 13 and knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It is all I can think of,” says a passionate Casey, who calls the big cats like you would call your children.
The cats sleep for about 20 hours a day, just like in the wild, and have eight minute performances a day. “The big cats enjoy the training process, I don’t do anything with them they don’t do in the wild and that they physically don’t want to do. They love playing and romping around.”
The lions and tigers have access to water in and outside. They sleep in a long open trailer in the shade and can wander outside whenever they want to where a big bath is available for them to play in. They are fed every night and are in excellent physical shape.
“We have nowhere to hide, there is no secret place where we torture or whip the animals. The whole circus area is open for anyone to look around. Yes, sure there are, like in every industry, bad circuses that abuse the animals but the Alberton SPCA has been here three times in the two weeks we have been here. We have a good relationship with them. After a while the whole story of abuse gets a bit old and gets to me.” says Casey.
“The circus has eight horses and each horse only performs for two minutes a show.” says Arnold. “We have enough animals to ensure that the animals are not overworked. During the RECORD’s visit, the stunning Friesian horses eagerly came to the fence to interact with the reporter and are clearly at ease with humans. The McLaren circus is now on its way to Kempton Park for the next couple of weeks.
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