Osman Shrine Circus — Attraction in Falcon Heights

I've previously really enjoyed bringing my children to see the Osman Shrine Circus but this year was a complete let down in terms of performance value. The talent was minimal by far, there was a complete lack of energy and sadly the elephants looked incredibly miserable. Tears were rolling down their cheeks while being offered for rides at intermission. After witnessing this, I ended up agreeing with the protesters outside of the venue when they yelled "Animal cruelty is not entertainment!" One of the elephants was "rewarded" with a big bag of cotton candy stuffed in her mouth and she didn't even want to close her mouth to eat it. The most awkward and saddening sight. You couldn't offer her bananas or fresh fruit? The music and choreography was very basic and dancers struggled to stay in sync. Two years prior, the show was amazing. The expansive cast was so diverse, the acts were tantalizing, and the overall quality was so much better. Now, the few performers appear all the same ethnicity, there were no aerial hair hanging acts, tight rope walkers or motorists, the performer on the spinning wheel did nothing amusing except go for spins laying in the wheel, the animal acts just ran in circles around the ring and then my children and I watched the poor Latina in the motor cage FALL AND GET HURT after her motorbike repeatedly failed and cut off. This will more than likely be my last time supporting this organization. The only worthwhile act was the couple shooting the bow and arrows at one another. Just a complete let down and waste of...

Betty, a 54 year old elephant, is chronically lame, likely a result of prolonged chaining and confinement. She does not bend her left front ankle, which is evident when she walks or give rides. Betty also continually drags her trunk along the ground as she walks. It appears that she is using her trunk as a crutch to remain balanced or to hold her upright.

Betty is held captive by Carden Circus International and is used for entertainment and rides around the US, and even here in Minnesota during the St Paul Shrine Circus.

Despite their size elephants are not designed for carrying people on their back which can often lead to permanent leg and spinal injuries. However, it is not just the weight on their spines – the chair or Howdah attached to their backs also rubs on their back, causing blisters that can get infected. Betty should be at a sanctuary, not performing at the St. Paul Shrine Circus.

Additionally, despite a reply by the St. Paul Shrine Circus on a google review stating they don't use bull hooks, guests documented bull hooks on...

I loved seeing the elephants under the big top, although the elephant rides can be done away with, and only have the mahouts ride them. Perhaps the circus could use younger elephants and retire the aging ones. The motorcycles could also be replaced by the wheel of death or a cannon as the finale, since their motors might be too loud for the elephants. The bullhooks should be replaced with the more humane Human Elephant Learning Programs (H-ELP), which builds a relationship of trust between the elephants and their handlers. The horses could be better fed, though. I'm not writing the above to abolish animal acts (What would a circus be without its mighty pachyderms or its menagerie of other animals?), but as constructive criticism on what the circus can do to improve the welfare of its animals. I really loved the acrobats on the diving board, and I even had my photo taken with the ringmaster, and the clowns (the latter being for the sixth...