Protestors regularly line the gates and ticket office trying to deter families and visitors from entering as they believe the use of live performing animals is cruel.

But circus manager Cheryl Lennon invites anyone who has doubts about how they treat their animals to come and spend time with them.

“They are not locked up in a cage as some people say they are,” she said.

“Why would we hurt them?

“They are part of our family.”

The Lennon Bros Circus opens in Wagga tonight and already there have been protest flyers posted around Wagga, a letter sent to The Daily Advertiser and outrage on Facebook.

“There is no reasoning with those sort of people,” Mrs Lennon said.

“They don’t want to listen, they have their one-track mind on what happens in this tent.

“It’s just something we have to deal with.

“But no circus has ever been prosecuted in Australia.”

Mrs Leonard has been with the circus for 36 years since she met her husband Geoffrey Leonard, whose parents own the circus.

Mrs Lennon said the animals are locked up at their night for their own safety but have ample access to an exercise yard during the day.

“They are home, they don’t know anything else,” she said.

“That’s where they get fed and get their attention.”

Ironically, Mrs Lennon said the three lions, two mini donkeys, three camels, four monkeys and 11 performing dogs are the biggest crowd pleasers.

“The people love traditional circuses with animals,” she said.

“It’s just a minority group that’s against it.”

A letter to The Daily Advertiser by Glenda Pym states “nothing in these performances can be regarded as natural behaviours for these animals that are forced to spend months touring the land, performing at the command of their trainers.”

Mrs Lennon said anyone who has worked with animals knows you cannot make them do something they do not want to do.

The Lennon Bros Circus will be in Wagga until September 14 and tickets are available from Don Tuckwells Audio or at the gate an hour before the show starts.