Circus Wild Animal Trainer Helps the SPCA?

No, you didn't read that wrong. It seems that a kind-hearted member of our circus community has put differences to one side - perhaps in the spirit of this festive season - and come to the aid of one its staunchest opponents. However, fear not. This is not some naive soul won over by "soft" animal rights dogma, as we have seen happen to often in the zoo fraternity. Casey, our man in South Africa, recognized that by donating animal food to this "non-profit" organization he had some say over where his hard-earned money would go.

SPCA International are a global organization that go under the guise of being "animal welfare" orientated rather than rights, but much like the similarly named RSPCA in the UK, the group is heavily involved in political activities and oppose certain legal animal professions such as animal circuses. Unlike various other legitimate animal welfare charities, such as SSPCA, PDSA, The Blue

Blackfish's Mission Creep

 The BBC agree to promote and show a partisan animal rights documentary with no desire to show any opposing views. Cult film, 'Blackfish', has sneaked past many scientists and people in the animal industry's cognitive blind spots with its thinly veiled animal rights agenda. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the thin end of the wedge. This is "soft" animal rights and once it is in the public consciousness just about everyone in the animal industry - from pet-owners to riding stables to zoos to scientific researchers to animal welfare sanctuaries will suffer... Do something now! 

And The Moonbeams Kissed The Sea: Blackfish's Mission Creep: Are some zookeepers tur...: PeTA's specially created Facebook page to promote the BBC's showing of 'Blackfish' The publicity and spin from the film ...


Astley's Legacy was formed to counter the misinformation and propaganda spread by animal rights activists. As well as fighting the corner for circus animals and their trainers, we are here to promote and celebrate the cultural heritage of Circus in general, and especially in the country of its birth - Great Britain. For more information please see our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/223570581049199 Or follow us on Twitter: @RousterAstley

Selective Memory Loss...

Please see below link to a great post by "And the Moonbeam Kissed the Sea":

And The Moonbeams Kissed The Sea: 'The Perfect Pair: The Enchanted Mirror' or David ...:

The RSPCA tries to censor criticism on Facebook

And The Moonbeams Kissed The Sea: The RSPCA tries to censor criticism on Facebook: The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) is not doing too well at the moment, according to a number of press reports in p...

The Operation was a success, but the patient died

Death in the animal kingdom, although a cruel reality, has always been unpleasant for those who possess a strong affinity with beings of another species.

Last week, on the 14th of June, we were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Thandora, a female African Elephant who, earlier this year, made headlines around the world in the most recent attempt the reintroduce a zoo animal back into the wild.

Sources say that Thandora was a native of the Kruger National Park and, between the ages of 4 and 5, was brought to Bloemfontein Zoo after being orphaned in a cull.

It was at her new home and over 20 years later, because of her wild birth, she was selected for the attempt of being reintroduced back into her natural habitat. This was accepted by Bloemfontein Zoo after pressure was put on the zoo by the NSPCA.
This charity, much like its British counterpart, publicly advocates animal welfare whilst covertly pushes an animal rights agenda. The involvement of this group, it would seem, marked the beginning of the end for her.

After an eventful "rehabilitation" - which involved Thandora breaking free from the makeshift enclosure, or "boma", she was being kept in to go in search of her home at the zoo - she was released. A month later, of her own free will, she shunned the herd of cows and a calf that the team behind her relocation were encouraging her to join with and instead, showed a keen interest in a group of bulls.

Dan Koehl's Blog: Pat Derby (1942-2013) cofounder of Performing Anim...

Dan Koehl's Blog: Pat Derby (1942-2013) cofounder of Performing Anim...: In my previous blog I told about that Pat Derby / PAWS threatens to sue me .  ( In 2002, PAWS spent $67,000 in legal fees, according to i... 

What, How and Why?

Trying to define the art form that is animal training is like giving a description of the visual features of a sunset to someone who was born without the gift of sight, no words can do justice to such a magnificent spectacle. Unlike any scientific method, it cannot be completely explained with just words. With that in mind, the following is the best attempt I can make to share with you our tradition, passion, and way of life.

I shall start by describing what we do. As any animal lover knows, to form a bond with a being of a different species is to bridge the gap between worlds, and to be able to communicate your wishes to your pet dog, cat, horse, or any other animal, and to have them fulfilled without coercion, is an extension of that bond. It is widely known that teaching your pet to perform certain actions and behaviours, whether it be house training, retrieving toys, rolling over, or jumping over or through obstacles, is highly beneficial to its wellbeing. The idea that this principle is limited to house pets and does not apply in a travelling circus environment is absurd, at best. Scientific studies have shown repeatedly that dogs, cats, horses, camels, llamas, various species of reptile, big cats and many other animals not only DO NOT suffer when living on a circus, but, in certain cases, even thrive better than in zoos and stables. And what gives circuses the upper hand over zoos? The physical activity and mental stimulation known as performing. That and the constant change of sights, sounds and smells help to keep our animals happy and healthy.

The Radical Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals?

Rouster has observed over the past year how the RSPCA, the UK's most famous animal welfare charity, has started to do an apparent U-turn on its non-radical front.  Up until 2012 the RSPCA had been involved in a wide range of activities that seemed to indicate the society's desire to be seen as an animal welfare group rather than a militant political group. They launched a food label to brand meats, milk and other animal products as "cruelty-free" from approved farmers. The RSPCA also indicated an interest in helping to create achievable standards in animal training and various other animal industries. These actions demonstrated a desire to work alongside the animal companies that animal right groups oppose directly, solely on ethical grounds.  It suggested that the RSPCA's focus was on improving the welfare of animals in all industries, which is the sort of behaviour that Rouster endorses and applauds.  It was comparable to the approaches taken by other sensible, animal welfare and environmental groups that are pro-animals and pro-nature, but not anti-human.

This all sounds rather prestigious and grand, but what is the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics?

 

The captive animals' protection society (CAPS) - the UK based charity who states that it aims to end the use of all animals not just in circuses but also in zoos and the exotic pet trade - has never been shy when it comes to self-aggrandisement.  Recently it proudly boasted on its Facebook page that CAPS Director, Liz Tyson had been offered the role as an Associate Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.

Today's Report on the ASPCA's Loss to RBBB

On 16th January 2013 Today televised a report on the ASPCA's defeat by Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Link to the programme