Circus in Newry left without water

UTV - 7 June 2010
A touring circus with more than 50 people and 40 animals has been unable to access water for more than 24 hours at a site in Newry.
Circus Sydney arrived at St Christopher's Park on Monday and is due to open on Wednesday night.
The employees, including their children, are from countries across Eastern Europe, and the animals include horses, llamas and emus, but no caged or exotic animals.
The circus say the council referred them to Northern Ireland Water but they have not yet been able to resolve the situation.
Billy Wilson from the circus says it is a very difficult situation:
"What we're trying to do is to buy bottled water for the children.
"But we can't do that for animals and the water from Newry canal is too polluted, with dead fish floating in it so we don't feel that's safe to give to the animals.
"We are in an emergency situation."
What can you do
- Boycott circuses with performing animals
- Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference
- Write to your MLA, asking her/him to call on the Minister to ban animal use in circuses. Contact details can be found here.
- Write to your local newspaper highlighting what is wrong with circuses - click here.
- Send a donation to help our campaigns - your contribution is vital
You can help by getting involved in our campaigns or contact us info@captiveanimals.org to join our e-mail list.