Alain Zerbini’s Circus from Myakka City, Florida

August 28, 2000 at 109 E. Park St. Champaign, IL National Armory

August 29, 2000 at 600 E. University Urbana, IL National Armory

Animals: 2 Camels, 2 large hogs, 10 ducks, four ponies, a rabbit., undetermined number of dogs.

All animals travel together in a single semi trailer with little ventilation. Ducks travel in only two pet carriers, both hogs are kept in a single cage that is within the trailer allowing ventilation only through the rear doors of trailer when opened.

August 28, 2000 Show times 5:30pm and 7:30pm 5:30pm Camels were observed sitting in direct sunlight tied to trailer until performance. 7:00pm One camel was tied up to side of building standing on concrete without access to water and was swaying intensely. This camel was later identified to be "Louie".

9:00pm Animals arrived at Urbana Armory.

August 29, 2000 Show times 5:30pm and 7:30pm Heat index high for day 114 degrees.

2:00pm Camels and ponies were tied in direct sunlight. One camel was sitting on concrete with only a single layer of straw. One pony rubbing against the fence it was tied nearby trying to get in shade that was out of reach. One camel was in partial shade eating leaves off of nearby tree. Ducks were in an enclosed pin about four feet wide with both carriers and a small swimming pool in the direct sun next to building. The rabbit was also in an enclosed pin sitting on top of its carrier, also in the direct sun. Trailer end with hogs cage was facing in the direct sun. Dogs were tied along sides of trailer. Some in the direct sun.

2:30pm Called Armory and when I requested that they have the circus move the animals to shade, as it is very very hot out and they are sitting in direct sunlight, on the hot concrete and the animals should have access to shade at all times. They said they didn’t own the circus, I said I knew that but they are hosting it and the gentlemen stated that they had already went out in the morning and asked them to move the animals, that there is an area on the property that provides shade, however they can only ask they to move the animals, they can not force them. He thanked me for my call and suggested I call some local authority regarding the situation. I phoned the Champaign County Animal Control, as there is no other animal control department listed. They explained the Armory was in city limits and I would need to call the city animal control, which is only contacted by calling the non-emergency met cad phone number. I was told that the person I needed to talk with wasn’t available and would have to leave my name and number and they would call me back. I called the Champaign County Humane Society and spoke to Steve Tarkan explaining the above situation. He said they couldn’t really do anything and suggested I call the Animal control. I explained I was waiting for a return call as I didn’t talk to anyone in that department.

5:10pm: Animals were in same area in which I had seen them earlier at 2pm. The camels and ponies are mostly still under direct sunlight.

8:30pm: I went around to were the trailer were set up and the animals were kept. A Caucasian looking handler about 5’9’ with brown hair walked up to me as I was about 20 feet from any of the animals, I asked him if I could look at the trailer, he said that the dogs were tied up along it so no. I asked if all the animals traveled in the same trailer, he stated yes. I asked if they were from Florida, he said yes. I stated that is a long distance. He claimed that they stop every one to two hours and water the animals. He asked me who I was and I said I was a circus checker. He told me I had no right to be back there, to be near the animals and needed to leave. I then left the property

9:20pm: The camels and ponies were again tied along fence and on the concrete. There is only one pony at the end of the fence that would have been able to reach an empty bucket. One camel and horse was eating the leaves off the trees. My concern is the lack of available water or food. Though during the day there were buckets of water, I didn’t not see any food available at the times I viewed them. One of the ponies was viewed to have one rear hoof lifted above the ground at all times. I did not see anyone handling the animals unless going and coming from performances.

I did not view the show, I was outside of the Armories protesting the animal circus. A female and male with a child leaving the show on the 29th after only a hour of viewing the show was leaving and stop and asked if I had any flyers that they could report the circus, the man stating it wasn’t worth the money he had spent, the woman claiming "the animals were very badly mistreated." The flyer I had given was a copy of PETA’s Circus Check List.