Bret June 22, 2011 11:59:37 (EDT)

WOW...not often that I am speechles but, WOW. I heard about this..pretty sad what the AA's have done here. Way to go.

Benny Benson;( June 21, 2011 19:08:07 (EDT)

My apologies. I was simply trying to steer this long running site back towards something postive. For several years it has brought old friends, Benson employees, admirers, old patrons back together. It seemed to do a great deal to motivate and assist the amazing group of people that have breathed a great new life into the property. This site seemed for a long time to serve a very positive purpose. I was attempting to get it back to that. It has been hijacked by a handful of angry, self centered and self serving types. Thus, ruining it for the rest of us. It seems best to now avoid this site and venture to more positive venues. Anything more from 'Benny Benson:) will not be from me.

Benny Benson:) June 21, 2011 18:27:27 (EDT)

Probably won't be getting your message board back any time soon. How are those horses that escaped during Saturdays "performance"? The way I see it... a million dollar enterprise that can't keep two friendly, domesticated horses contained has no business trying to contain elephants or big cats. Benson's and Cole Bros. Put the entire town of Hudson at knowing risk with this "fundraiser", its not the first time Cole Bros almost had a break out that ended badly. I hope this was worth all Tue bad press for you guys. We might be better off letting Bensons turn back into a swamp and waiting until a responsible organization can step up and take care of it. Without tortured animals and bad handlers to make money for them.

Benny Benson:) June 21, 2011 17:53:46 (EDT)

Probably won't be getting your message board back any time soon. How are those horses that escaped during Saturdays "performance"? The way I see it... a million dollar enterprise that can't keep two friendly, domesticated horses contained has no business trying to contain elephants or big cats. Benson's and Cole Bros. Put the entire town of Hudson at knowing risk with this "fundraiser", its not the first time Cole Bros almost had a break out that ended badly. I hope this was worth all Tue bad press for you guys. We might be better off letting Bensons turn back into a swamp and waiting until a responsible organization can step up and take care of it. Without tortured animals and bad handlers to make money for them.

Judy June 21, 2011 09:55:12 (EDT)

Maybe next time fundraisers are planned, things will be thought through with a different mindset and a modern flare. Don't repeat the past, it belongs where it is....
in the past.

Until then.... yes..... have your site back to maintain your those friendships found while working at the farm.

Benny Benson:) June 20, 2011 07:06:08 (EDT)

OK....maybe now is a good time to get back to the assumed original intent of this site, constructive chat about Bensons - old and new. To the owner that put up this site, kept it open and maintained...'Thanks!' Let's get back to Benson's...old tales and new goals..folks!

Wilbur Mercer June 20, 2011 01:48:07 (EDT)

Gotta love how the only people on here defending this circus are all the same person. Tom/Shawn/Hugh you know you don't have to put in a email address to post here right? So Bensons, despite this whole circus debacle i really used to enjoy going to the park, walking around, reading, sitting in the old gorilla cage and thinking about how far most of our attitudes about animals have come since then. I hope this was worth it for you guys... maybe you can get a new gorilla or two for that old cage?

Wilbur Mercer June 20, 2011 01:29:31 (EDT)

Good job Bensons for perpetuating the kind of animal care that was acceptable in your heyday. Circuses are as out of date as the majority of the people who work for them. I have to hope that as the later generation slips this mortal coil their romantic ideal of a beautiful big top filled with subservient but happy animals goes with them. Any young people with genuine interest in animal well being will hopefully go towards the conservation side of things rather than the exploitative. But as long as their are people willing to pay money to see a sad animal work for its existence there will be "animal trainers" to make sure they squeeze every penny's worth of sweat from them. Don't get me wrong I'm sure there are some trainers out there who are actually interested in educating the public about conservation awareness and in the comfort of their animal "companions". Rest assured they've never worked for or defended the Cole Bros. Circus or related enterprises. My question for Benson's is: Did you not look into the history of this business at all before choosing them or did you notice their long history of abuse, neglect and lawlessness and just not care?

Bob Green June 19, 2011 10:24:36 (EDT)

For some it's not your thing but to the folks who come to this page who miss and enjoyed BWAF(the purpose of the site) the Circus that is in town today is something you will have a fabulous time at. There are 2 more shows today Sunday June 19th at 1:30 and 4:30 taking place at 211 Derry Road Hudson, NH NH Rt. 102 "The Hills House". Arrive early for best seats!

A. A. LaViolette June 19, 2011 10:23:48 (EDT)

I'm not here to insult anyone, and I'm not an "angry, misinformed" activist: to the contrary, I am an informed citizen hoping to raise further awareness of Cole Brothers' long history of animal abuse. One needs only to do a simple Google search to learn more about this: and the list is a mile long.

I can only speak for myself, but I believe the majority of us here aren't knocking the role Benson's played in local history, or the fact that the modern park is an incredible asset for the community. And I don't doubt Benson's had some animal trainers there who were compassionate, took their duties seriously and tried to learn as much as they could about the creatures in their care.

However, we've learned a lot since the days when Benson's was an animal park. I'd like to think that as a society, we've grown since then. We now know that it ISN'T OK to keep living creatures in concrete and steel cages, and that forcing animals to perform unnatural tricks teaches children NOTHING about their importance in the wild.

Now as for those who sputter ignorant remarks like "they are animals, they are here for our entertainment," and "this is a good family day, who cares if they yell at elephants and hit them with a stick," I certainly hate to lower myself to your level, but it makes me sad to think that this is the message you're teaching your children.

Bret Bronson June 19, 2011 08:59:32 (EDT)

I know in my very short 30+ year zoo and animal training career, I never met one animal activist that wasn't angry, misinformed, insulting and more so - lacked any direct knowledge/experience of exotic animal care. They rely heavily on insults and exaggerations. Abuse, cruelty and poor care does exist. It is not the norm but, does exist. I've known MANY trainers and animal care staff that work incredibly hard to provide quality care and management of their animals. This is called knowledge and experience. As Ben Franklin once said, "It is best to be thought of as ignorant, than to speak up and remove all doubt". Get Knowldege. Fight the bad...support the good.

Larry Records June 19, 2011 07:12:13 (EDT)

Good Lord. What a bunch of maroons!

TONY June 18, 2011 23:37:49 (EDT)

This is about the animals.
Sorry for the personal insult at the end of my note.
It wasn't called for.

TONY June 18, 2011 17:29:32 (EDT)

Like the tale of how Betsy sent George Marshall
sailing against the concrete wall ? She was confined to the point of outrage. That poor girl barely saw the light of day from that barn you are all trying to save.
The sign out front should read Betsy's Prison !

And the polar bear that paced back and forth....
in his warm bath tub......

and the gorilla that was snatched from the wild as an infant and held prisoner in a cell for all those years.
His happiest day was when Bensons finally closed and he made it to a respectable zoo and had a family.....
Now that's a happy tale !

hey, were you the circus fans dressed as jackasses
heading under the big top ?

Tom Araya June 18, 2011 12:42:08 (EDT)

They are animals,they are here for our enjoyment, so what they have small living quaters, so doesnt my Grandmother and I dont see you doing anything about that. GET A LIFE and leave people alone. BENSONS IS GREAT.

Shawn Fitzgerald June 18, 2011 09:40:17 (EDT)

Benson's had alot of good memories for me and going back to the circus today is great. I agree with Manny. Tony, Brad, Linda go protest and whine somewhere else. Losers trying to ruin a good family day cuz an elephant gets yelled at and hit with a stick.

Benny Benson:) June 18, 2011 09:00:53 (EDT)

Patience Bensons' fans. Soon the angry dust will settle and the vast majority of us ignorant ones can get back to Bensons' tales.....old and new.

TONY June 17, 2011 19:29:00 (EDT)

To bad none of these facts were sent as a letter to the Telegraph.

This horific emabarassment is happening this weekend.

So many ignorant people will be there.

Maybe while you all sit there and watch men tame the beast
you'll begin to feel what is so very wrong about this whole thing.
Find compassion for our fellow animals instead of enjoyment at their painful treament and confined expense.

Brad June 17, 2011 17:03:11 (EDT)

Circuses are abusive to animals and well documented yet they get away with it due to weak regulation...Why would you support a circus if you care about animals? Google anything on circus animal abuse!

http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/circuses.aspx