PETA delivers eye-opening message

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The circus is about to roll into town but not everyone's rolling out the welcome mat.

A group that fights for animals' rights delivered an eye-opening message to school children in Buffalo on Tuesday.

Right at dismissal time outside of Buffalo Elementary School of Technology, a representative of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and an elephant character with a bloody bandage handed out coloring books that said "Animals belong in the jungle" and "We don't support elephants in circuses".

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"We're just out here letting people know, animals don't like to be locked up or chained. They wanna be with their Mommy, just like you wanna be with your Mommy," said Virginia Fort from PETA

Some parents didn't mind it, some did.

"Well, I think it could give the wrong perception to the kids of what's really going on. I think there's a better way they should go about doing something, so maybe something at the school," explained Dwayne Warren.

Another parent said, "I think it's important that they are here to show the kids that animal cruelty is terrible, so I'm glad that they are here."

PETA has posted a video on the internet showing Ringling Brothers trainers striking elephants with a guide stick before a show, so we asked the circus about that.

Ringing Brothers Director of Animal Training, Janice Aria said, "I can guarantee you that the elephants were not harmed. I think that there's a great misunderstanding about working an 8,000 to 10,000 pound animal."

She said that video is condensed from hours of tape and is deceptive.

"I am upset that they would choose to take so much distorted information to school children. That just seems very offensive to me," she also explained.

But Virginia said, "Everytime you go to the circus, they're supporting cruelty to animals."

Ringling Brothers comes to Buffalo in a little over two weeks.