Flea World, a flea market in Sanford, Florida (10 miles north of Orlando), regularly features cruel animal acts including big cats, elephants and other animals.

Animals in traveling acts lead a dreary existence of confinement and abuse – carted from one location to another, deprived of normal social relationships and denied their natural behaviors. Traveling animal acts are notorious for their abusive training techniques.

Each Winter (February & March), Flea World hosts a circus act that includes a solitary elephant named "Dondi." Dondi is a 34-year-old Asian elephant who was born in the wild in Thailand before being brought to this country to perform. Dondi is also forced to give rides at Flea World. She is kept in a small trailer when not performing.

For several months each year, Flea World features performances by Thunderhawk Big Cat Rescue. Despite its name, Thunderhawk is not a sanctuary. Thunderhawk brings some of the dozens of lions, tigers, leopards and cougars it owns to performances at BBQ festivals, tattoo conventions and flea markets across Florida.

Photo: tiger at a Thunderhawk event.

Animals at reputable sanctuaries are not hired out for entertainment, and are not allowed to breed (Thunderhawk continues to breed tigers and other animals). Every year, sanctuaries have to turn away hundreds of requests to place big cats. Organizations like Thunderhawk that continue to breed tigers and other animals are making a bad situation worse. At genuine sanctuaries, the welfare of animals is always primary. Visit the The Association of Sanctuaries to learn more about ethical sanctuaries.

ARFF has asked Thunderhawk Big Cat Rescue to explain why they continue to breed tigers and other big cats (click here to download's ARFF's letter). Unfortunately, Thunderhawk has failed to respond to our letter.

Visit our Events Calendar for information about future demonstrations at Flea World!