The Kora Shrine Circus in back in Lewiston, Maine and I'm having none of it. Every year as soon as I see those stupid little signs posted around I roll my eyes and secretly curse those who think it's fun and actually put their money towards something so incredibly awful.

Don't get me wrong, in some aspects, a circus sounds cool. Yes, based on that sentence you probably figured it out. I have never been to a circus. So who am I to judge? Well, based on the common knowledge of the treatment of animals and that fact that none of them were made to do any of what they're "trained" to do says otherwise.

Jumping back to that first point. I like the idea of clowns and acrobats and the people part of it. I think that sounds fun and interesting, seeing the amazing things these people are able to do. Their talents that they want to do and work hard. It's the animals I can't stand.

I can't justify, and I don't know who anyone can, paying and supporting this. If you think it's natural for elephants, tigers, lions, etc. to do the tricks they do, then I'm sorry to break it to you, but you might be a tad crazy.

How could you think it's okay for them to be cramped in small places will no room to move in between shows and transportation and overall in general. These animals are not in any way made to be domesticated and trained this way. They are not meant to be hurt and forced just to amuse us for a short period of time.

Here are a couple of great articles I read describing more of what these animals are made to go through:

PETA, albeit sometimes a little over the top, has 10 great reasons you shouldn't attend a circus. One point that I liked was the fact that a time could come where the animal will snap and can result in injuries or death. I mean, wouldn't you eventually snap if you're put through that?

Paws, a site about people helping animals has lots of good articles on different topics of animals abuse; puppy mills, animal hoarding, bear baiting, etc. They have a lot of good information on the circus and these animals and why they don't enjoy the circus. It explains what happens to them, the message it sends to our kinds, how you can help, etc.

The Dodo goes into more about the treatments on the elephants, which to me is just heartbreaking.

So please, I urge you to look into your local circus more, also look up sites that show what you can do to help. There are a ton out there. Paws even has a kids page to shows ways that they can help protect animals which I think is amazing.

I have some people argue back with topics like police dogs, or horse races. To me, completely different. I'm not getting to get into my opinions on those as this is about the circus. I think it's a pretty ridiculous argument. They're different animals with different personalities. We're talking about wild animals verses animals that have been domesticated and are taken pretty good care of, given that occasional a-hole. Circus animals are in constant abuse.

To my circus, Kora Shrine, pack up and leave already, set those animals free and shut it down. To those who support the circus, I'm sorry, but I've lost a little bit of respect for you.

I'd love to hear your opinions on the circus. Why do you or don't you support it? What do you think should happen?