Circus may be coming to town, but so are the protesters

The opening of the Carson & Barnes Family Circus in Wheaton today is expected to feature clowns, acrobats and protesters.

Members of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals promise to picket the show over what they are calling mistreatment of elephants.

The organization is objecting to the circus' use of bullhooks, a stick with a metal hook at the end.

"It's a tool used to intimidate and punish," said PETA's director of captive animals and entertainment issues, Debbie Leahy, a Warrenville resident.

Carson & Barnes spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson fired back, calling the claims by PETA outright "lies."

"We like our animals. We care for them very much," Johnson said. "We do not mistreat our animals."

PETA has written to DuPage County Board members asking them to ban bullhooks and electric prods, saying they promote cruelty to elephants.

"There's not enough time for this year, but we'd like to see a prohibition on the books," Leahy said.

Carson & Barnes does not use electric prods, Johnson said. Its staff do use bullhooks as a training tool and to guide elephants.

"It's an extension of the trainer's arm," she said. "It's no different than a leash on a dog."

Bullhooks are permitted tools in animal handling, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

DuPage County spokesman Jason Gerwig said officials were reviewing PETA's request.

The county's animal care and control department also will dispatch an expert to check up on the circus.

"If there is an issue of any violation or abuse of the elephants, (the county) will immediately contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Judicial and Public Safety Committee Chairman Michael McMahon said.

The agriculture department's animal and plant health inspection service conducts annual random checks of circuses such as Carson & Barnes.

Since 1998, Carson & Barnes has been fined twice by the Health Inspection Service, agency spokeswoman Jessica Milteer said.

The circus was fined $400 for an improper animal handling incident that occurred in 1999 and $550 for an accident involving elephant transportation in 2003.

Such fines are considered "moderate," Milteer said. Penalties can reach into the thousands of dollars or result in the suspension of a circus' license.

The circus will be in Wheaton through Thursday.