Circuses Discipline, Not Abuse, Animals

Re “Circus Practices Go on Trial,” Dec. 18: I am an 84-year-old lady who married into the circus in 1945 and, because in those days you had to do something, I became the first woman circus press agent. In all the years I was with circuses, Ringling Bros., Clyde Beatty and Cole Bros., as an animal lover I spent many hours with various trainers and observing the animals. Never did I see an animal mistreated. True, in training they may have been disciplined, just as many people use discipline to train their dogs.

I was with the Ringling Bros. Circus when Gunther Gebel Williams came to this country and I have never seen an animal trainer more concerned or more in love with his animals. I have no doubt that he passed this on to his son Mark Oliver Gebel, who grew up with these animals.

The Ringling Bros. Circus has always been concerned about its animals and has shown that concern by its animal conservation efforts and animal care facilities. I would only wish these supposedly concerned animal rights people would be just as concerned about homeless, mistreated and starving children.

Shirley Carroll O’Connor

Laguna Woods

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I would much rather watch animals at play or at rest in their own environment than watch them “perform.” Animals are not on Earth to entertain us. They can, however, be our companions.

Karin W. Ahlf

Costa Mesa