The morality of using animals for human entertainment has long been a controversial and polarizing issue, for which there is no clearly defined solution. Debates on this topic commonly question the ethical responsibilities that humans have towards animals and, consequently, whether or not animals deserve to receive the same ethical treatment as humans. This is perhaps most evident in the broad, subjective and widespread debate regarding the ethical acceptability of using circus animals for human entertainment. Many argue that the benefits derived from entertainment by humans outweigh the harmful effects on animals. However, to the contrary, it has been proposed that circuses knowingly harm these animals both physically and psychologically. This essay will argue that owning and training circus animals to perform for human entertainment is a clearly ethically unacceptable practice and, therefore, that humans have an obligation to adequately uphold the ethical rights of circus animals. circus. Thus three main points will be discussed. First, investigations will be conducted to evaluate the quality of life of circus animals. Specifically, the methods of treatment and training of circus animals will be examined to demonstrate that these practices are useless and cause physical suffering to the animals. Secondly, legislation relating to the treatment of circus animals will be explored. Subsequently, human attitudes and behaviors towards circus animals will be investigated, while social ignorance and apathy towards the treatment of circus animals will be discussed, to demonstrate that these laws do not adequately protect circus animals. Finally, the sensitivity of animals will be investigated... in the middle of the paper...', Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, vol.1, n.13, pp.155-170.Carmeli, YS 2002, '“Cruelty towards animals” and nostalgic totality: performance of a traveling circus in Great Britain', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol.22, n.12, pp.73-88.Garner, R 1993, Animals, politics and morality , Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK, pp. 92-94.Nussbaum, MC 2006, 'The moral status of Animals', The Chronicle of Higher Education, vol.1, n.4, pp. 1 -6.PETA 2012, Circuses; Three Rings of Abuse, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Norfolk, VA. Roleff, TL, Hurley, JA 1999, Animal Rights, Greenhaven Press, San Diego. Ringling Bros 2010, Circus Animal Abuse, video, YouTube, October 23, viewed 18 April 2014, .Serpell, J 1986, In the Company of Animals, B. Blackwell, Oxford.