Should owls be used as props in magic show

[suli]

Did anyone see the Britain's got Talent show on Sat on ITV where an illusionist act was using Owls and other animals as props? They even boasted they had another 50 plus animals at home including a bear which they will be using in future heats. Does anyone agree with me that this is an inappropriate way to treat such animals?

[rexy0101]

I totally agree with you.Did you see them in the Sunday People saying how desperate they were to win the show "to save the beloved animals he uses in his magic act"
The poor birds and animals must suffer stress while travelling to shows.They are living creatures not props for a cheap show

[wildwood]

Bears are totally unsuitable as captive animals except in those large open enclosures where they can rummage around all day in virtual privacy, as that is how they live in the wild. It is cruel to keep them in anything smaller as they become bored silly.
Owls on the other hand sit around all day waiting for something to come along that they can pounce on so it makes no difference to them whether they are in captivity or not, as long as they get a couple of whole mice/rats per day.

It is easy to form a knee jerk reaction against keeping captive animal but most are captive bred and probably won't survive in the wild unless they undergo expensive rehabilitation conditioning.
I know that you are only asking for opinions but If, as some would like, we are going to strive for a total ban on keeping animals than the dogs, cats, cows, sheep and porkers have to go too.

[lankeela]

But these will never be starved, beaten or otherwise ill treated like a lot of so called 'pet' animals.

[suli]

I have no objection to anyone keeping animals, pet, farm animals or captive bred "wild" animals as long as they are being looked after and treated apropriately, and as close to "natural" as possible.

However, I don't think pulling owls from a small box, on stage in front of lights and a very loud audience is appropriate. I felt degraded for the birds.

Apart from the shock element, the act could have been performed just as well, or just as poorly, with stuffed toys or vegetables.

We do enough shouting about how animals are treated in other countries, but we are sitting back letting this happen here. I am not one of these animal activist people, but the sight of owls being used this way just sickened me.

[chappie]

Rod Hull was just as bad.

[squarebear]

I think I saw that act noknowledge. He tried the same thing with a monkey too. Awful, awful man.

[4GS]

Rod Hull was a pervert, I watched him on a childrens chat show using that puppet to feel up kids.

[LoftyLottie]

Totally agree with you Suli, and as you say the act could have been performed just as well with inanimate objects. It was a really poor, boring act and just relied on the animals to get attention.

[chappie]

Serious question:

Did Rod Hull fall off a roof while fiddling with his aerial?

[squarebear]

Yes he did. He was trying to tune it in to a football game when he fell.

[chappie]

Thanks squarebear.

[chappie]

Ouch!!

[suli]

Thanks for all the latest comments. I'm glad I have been able to provoke some serious debate and all your answers will be forwarded to the SPSA (Society for the Protection of Stuffed Animals).

[chappie]

Hi suli,

I hate to see animals exploited in this way. I don't think it should be allowed in the name of entertainment.

On a lighter note, it's good to see that you have a sense of humour - I really liked the Society for the Protection of Stuffed Animals! (LOL)