ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Carson & Barnes Circus is subject to comprehensive animal welfare regulations at the federal, state and local levels and is under constant inspection and public scrutiny. The regulations that we follow and must abide by are:

Federal Animal Welfare Act:
The Animal Welfare Act provides the framework for the care, handling and well-being of performing animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforces this law and visits the circus several times a year to make unannounced inspections of our animals both on the road and at our winter quarters. In all aspects of animal care and safety, Carson & Barnes Circus exceeds all federal animal welfare standards and has never been found in violation of the Animal Welfare Act in regard to abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of its animals. For more information about the Animal Welfare Act, please visit the USDA's Animal Care page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/polmanpdf.html

Endangered Species Act:
Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Act governs trade in endangered and threatened species. Under the ESA, individuals and facilities such as Carson & Barnes Circus that engage in captive breeding of endangered species must obtain a Captive-bred Wildlife Registration and are subject to certain oversight restrictions.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
Carson & Barnes Circus also adheres to CITES, passed by the United Nations. This international treaty, adopted by Congress in 1976, prohibits the removal of Asian elephants and other endangered species from the wild. (Furthermore, laws prohibit the importation of Asian elephants from their native habitat into the United States.)

State & Local Oversight
Carson & Barnes Circus is also governed by a network of state and local permitting requirements and animal welfare laws and is subject to mandatory and/or unannounced inspections. In all instances, Carson & Barnes Circus has an open door policy for authorized inspectors and has provided access to our facilities for the training of humane and animal control officers. For example: See California regulations at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=fgc&codebody=&hits=20

Voluntary
Carson & Barnes Circus adheres to the NAIA policy on performing animals: http://www.naiaonline.org/body/articles/archives/policy_animent.htm AND the Animal Welfare & Education guidelines of the OABA: http://www.oaba.org/circus.htm