This debate started with the question:
How do you feel about using animals in entertainment?

62 children, aged 9-13, from
five classrooms in three schools, in USA, participated in this debate!

I know they use tools like bull hooks and electric prods to make animals perform. This is mean.
~ Sammy, Age 13 ~

People dress up animals for entertainement, like for the circus. The animals are extremely uncomfortable in those! That's very wrong...
~ Ayla, Age 13 ~

As long as they are not being treated cruelly, then it's fine with me.
~ Chris, Age 12 ~

I think it depends on how well the animals are being treated. Some animals may be treated correctly and enjoy being in the entertainment business.
~ Emily, Age 12 ~

I agree 100%
~ Paige, Age 12 ~

I guess so, but how are you sure they are not being mistreated? I agree that if they are being treated humanely its okay, but you can never be sure.
~ Eva, Age 12 ~

Very true, they should require checks or something.
~ Chris, Age 12 ~

If the animals are living a good life in the circus and being treated nicely and with respect, I don't see a problem.
~ Amanda, Age 13 ~

I think that some kinds of entertainment using animals is okay, but having a tiger jump through a flaming hoop...
~ Elizabeth, Age 11 ~

That's bad.
~ Hannah, Age 13 ~

I feel that they are overused. I think they can be used for entertainment but not as often as they are being used.
~ Dan, Age 11 ~

I think most of it is okay, because they sometimes get treated better than they would in the wild.
~ Wendy, Age 13 ~

I believe that dog shows are okay, because dogs would have to be treated fairly if their owners want them to do well.
~ Dan, Age 11 ~

Sure, but the dog like to run...
~ Ben, Age 11 ~

Dogs run in dog shows and they would be run by their trainers to get in shape and they also get treated pretty good.
~ Dan, Age 11 ~

Schnauzers have to have their fur pulled out by hand for shows.
~ Bridget, Age 11 ~

So? Humans have their head shaved before they enter the army...
~ Ben, Age 11 ~

But that doesn't hurt.
~ Bridget, Age 11 ~

I think using animals for entertainment is horrible. In greyhound racing usually after 2 years, people kill the dogs are leave them out to suffer.
~ Tori, Age 13 ~

That's really unfair to the animals. There's just no point to racing a greyhound then killing it. It's awful.
~ Paige, Age 12 ~

I heard that they are is such bad condition when they are adopted.
~ Hannah, Age 13 ~

I think it is alright sometimes, depending on what.I hate the circus because they almost never think of the animals.It breaks my heart when I see lion tamers.
~ Casey, Age 11 ~

That is not true. Most lions have a better life in the circus than in the world.
~ Ben, Age 11 ~

Well, that all really depends.Some circuses do treat their animals fairly well, but I have seen some pretty scaring looking animals as well.
~ Casey, Age 11 ~

Elephants are really mistreated.
~ Bridget, Age 11 ~

I believe that elephants are actually the worst treated of all animals, and tigers the best.
~ Casey, Age 11 ~

I agree that elephants are very mistreated. I do believe that circuses are unfair to animals.
~ Dan, Age 11 ~

How?
~ Chris, Age 13 ~

Their entire life revolves around doing tricks and being forced to go out in front of crowds and doing handstands. They are meant to be in the wild.
~ Dan, Age 11 ~

Yeah, they are also hurt.
~ Bridget, Age 11 ~

Exactly. If an animal knocks someone of their back because they are sick of it, then they get killed. It's not fair.
~ Casey, Age 11 ~

Is that not like a human's life?
~ Ben, Age 11 ~

I don’t think circus animals are treated badly. I think it is just that some circus people are bad people. If everyone treated them nicely then we can enjoy and the animals will also be happy.
~ Kaitlin, Age 12 ~

How would you like to be treated like that? Do you know that when circus elephants lose it, it is because they have been driven crazy?
~ Lolita, Age 13 ~

I agree. I don’t know to be treated like that. I don’t think we should do that to animals.
~ Steve, Age 11 ~

I once saw a traveling animal circus. So many animals were crammed into a truck. I don’t know how long they are on the road.
~ Mona, Age 13 ~

I read something like 11 months in a year.
~ Lisa, Age 12 ~

What? That cannot be…
~ Liz, Age 12 ~

Believe me. They travel that much every year. Because the circus people can only make money if they do many shows. They are tied and caged rest of the time. It is so sad.
~ Beth, Age 13 ~

Also the circuses are so loud. Won’t it be too noisy for the animals?
~ Andrew, Age 12 ~

Not just noisy, confusing too. That’s why they snap.
~ Alan, Age 12 ~

Circuses exploit animals. There is no fun for them in this.
~ Dylan, Age 11 ~

It surprises me how anyone can call this torture as entertainment.
~ George, Age 13 ~

Actually, I always thought that circus was cool. I don’t think people know what happens behind the circus. I had to read so much for this debate and now I am shocked!
~ Jack, Age 13 ~

I think horse or dog acts are fine, but no bears, elephants or tigers!
~ Zack, Age 12 ~

Exotic animals in circus is plain wrong.
~ Kortney, Age 12 ~

Not just exotic, endangered too!
~ Nick, Age 13 ~

Roadside zoos should be shut down.
~ Allie, Age 13 ~

Support Cirque de Soliel!
~ Hannah, Age 13 ~

You spoke for me. I love their shows.
~ Pete, Age 11 ~

I think the circus is wrong, and wish they would be stopped too.
~ Chris, Age 9 ~

The people who teach the animals to do mean tricks are plain mean. They should be jailed.
~ Bette, Age 11 ~

Have you seen any of their cages? It stinks! The people don’t care to keep it clean.
~ Art, Age 13 ~

They make them do dumb tricks and probably torture them to get them to do it.
~ Rich, Age 9 ~

I am really glad that so many children are aware of how cruel circus is.
~ Patti, Age 13 ~

I think the animals are treated nicely.
~ Jill, Age 13 ~

I don’t care if they are treated with kid gloves, animals don’t belong in the circus.
~ John, Age 13 ~

If elephants don’t belong in the circus, what about dogs sniffing for drugs and bombs for us?
~ Anthony, Age 13 ~

Yeah. What about horses and other animals we use for our gain?
~ Kristen, Age 13 ~

I am also not against using animals for entertainment if they are treated properly and their quality of life is not affected. For example, dog dancing, where the owner and dog work out a dance routine is very nice. My mom does it with our dog and the dog seems to love it!
~ Dave, Age 13 ~

I do not believe in keeping any breed of animal in a small enclosure to only be released when it is time to entertain.
~ Zoey, Age 12 ~