PAWSI stands for Performing Animals Welfare Standards International

PAWSI is dedicated to establishing standards to protect the welfare of all animals involved in performance. PAWSI believes that the interaction between animals and man are beneficial to the interests of both, involvement in performance and entertainment is an aspect of this.

PAWSI has worked tirelessly as an honest-broker with DEFRA and others. It has pioneered training for trainers. Its recommendations for sensible regulation have been preferred by many (including apparently DEFRA).

Jan 2010 The Circus Consultation is open and it is important to respond.

ADI (Animal Defenders International) in some of its campaigning is promulgating misinformation about PAWSI. In its Answers Guide document ADI States:

'During the beatings of elephants at the Great British Circus in 2009, the circus was operating under the PAWSI standards (Performing Animal Welfare Standards International). Circuses cannot self-regulate.'

This is simply untrue! PAWSI prepared draft standards for circus at the request of DEFRA which have been shared with any group which asked for them. They are draft standards and are NOT currently operated by anyone.

Without going too deeply into this matter, the circus was operating under UK legislation at the time. Using ADI logic then the Government could not regulate either, since by implication the beating was illegal. Nor would all of the cruelty against dogs ever be stopped, because the fact that it occurs means the Animal Welfare Act and all of the measures taken by welfare groups is ineffective.

No-one was prosecuted re the elephants, the person conducting the beatings was immediately sacked - this would have been done more quickly if ADI had actually made the illegal-secret-video available earlier. The elephants were sent back to Germany.