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Two Northern Westchester Circus Performances Draw Crowd Of Protesters

VERPLANCK, N.Y. -- Two circus performances meant to benefit the Cortlandt Manor Rotary Club have drawn the ire of protesters, citing cruelty to animals. 

Protesters outside of a circus performance in Verplanck.

Protesters outside of a circus performance in Verplanck.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hillary Millman
Nicholas Fraco and Tim Harbolic protesting the Kelly Miller Circus in Verplanck.

Nicholas Fraco and Tim Harbolic protesting the Kelly Miller Circus in Verplanck.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hillary Millman
Ava Foy protesting a circus performance in Verplanck.

Ava Foy protesting a circus performance in Verplanck.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hillary Millman

The Kelly Miller Circus performed Tuesday and Wednesday at the Mount Carmel Grounds. Both performances featured more than 25 protesters outside the venue.

"We do not feel wild and exotic animals should be used for entertainment purposes," Hillary Millman, a Putnam Valley resident, said. "You don't get animals that weigh 1,000 lbs. to do what you want by giving them dog treats. These acts are scary and unnatural, they are physically painful. Female elephants are not supposed  to stand on their back legs." 

Millman said the Kelly Miller Circus has been cited numerous times for abuses, including leaving tigers in standing water full of feces and having two water receptacles in an enclosure for six tigers.

"That's torture," Millman said.

Millman said her and other protesters are going to work to have legislation passed that will ban circuses like Kelly Miller from performing in the area. 

An animal rights enthusiast, Millman said she remembers her parents taking her to a march in support of animals.

"I don’t like to see anyone suffering for entertainment," Millman  said. "That's what bothers me."

Sharon Irving, president of the rotary, said they have dealt with Kelly Miller in the past, and that it only has two pages of complaints at PETA's website, the fewest of any circus.

"Most of the complaints were prior to 2007 when it had a different owner," Irving said. "I was there on Tuesday, the animals are in beautiful condition. 

Irving said the animals were born in captivity and wouldn't know what to do if they were in the wild.

"Some of these children may never see one of these animals in their lives," Irving said. "Poachers are killing them in their natural habitats. If this continues, the only place to see these animals is at the zoo or the circus."

Irving said the animals are taken to the veterinarian once a month.  The Rotary Club hired Kelly Miller Circus because of its quality performances and treatment of animals.

"We could've hired any circus," Irving said. "Why would we bring something bad? We wanted the best circus there is."

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