Grant aid won’t help circus animals

THE recent decision of the Arts Council to fund circuses containing animal acts is most regrettable given the enormous suffering inflicted on animals, especially wild animals, in these travelling menageries.

The fleeting reference to animal welfare in your report on circuses (‘Council throws its hat in the ring’, Irish Examiner, April 14) in no way reflects the huge concerns on this issue - not only among animal rights and welfare groups, but a large and growing section of the general public as well.

That the issue seems to have featured very little in either the Arts Council’s decision or your report no doubt suits the circus fraternity whose spokespeople are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the pre-Victorian practice of hauling wild animals around the country to perform stupid tricks for the amusement of the public.