The Loomis Brothers Circus is returning to Florida this August, bringing with it a long trail of animal exploitation, cruelty, and outdated practices. We are calling on Charlotte, Osceola, DeSoto, Sarasota and Lee County officials, each venue and Florida lawmakers to:

🚫 Cancel Loomis Brothers’ animal acts

🛑 Ban the use of bullhooks, whips, pepper spray and electric prods on ALL the animal ''performers'' in Florida

🐅 End the use of wild and domestic animals in circuses and traveling shows
 
Loomis Brothers Circus continues to partner with animal exhibitors that have long, disturbing records of abuse:

Brian Franzen (Franzen Bros. Circus) – cited for improper handling/ abuse of elephants, tigers and ponies.
Brunon Blaszak – flagged for unsafe tiger exhibits and poor housing conditions.
Patricia Zerbini (Two Tails Ranch) - connected to ongoing complaints of elephant mistreatment and poor veterinary care.

These animals are subjected to fear-based training, long-distance travel in cramped trailers, and violent control tools like bullhooks (metal rods with hooks used to jab elephants), whips, and electric prods.

👉 This is not tradition. This is abuse - and we’re done tolerating it in Florida.

 
WHAT WE DEMAND:
✅ Enact statewide legislation banning wild animal acts and the devices used to control them

Circus acts that rely on fear, pain, and confinement should be a thing of the past. There are cruelty-free alternatives that don’t exploit and hurt living beings for laughs and applause.

Let’s lead with compassion - for the elephants, the tigers, the camels, the horses, and every animal trapped in this cycle of abuse.

****A deeper look at the animal Suppliers for Loomis Bros. and Their Violations
Loomis Bros. Circus does not always own the animals it showcases –

Instead, it leases or contracts acts from outside animal exhibitors. The key suppliers it works with have each amassed extensive records of citations, violations, and even criminal charges related to animal mistreatment. Below is a list of the notable entities providing animals to Loomis Bros., and the documented offenses associated with each:

Brian Franzen (Franzen Bros. Circus) – Elephants & Big Cats Supplier: Franzen’s outfit often supplies Loomis with elephant and tiger (actspeta.org). He has been cited dozens of times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for AWA violations and was even convicted of cruelty to animals after authorities found several emaciated ponies in a filthy trailer under his care (peta.org) (support.peta.org). His USDA citations span a wide range of neglect and abuse: failing to provide veterinary care and proper nutrition, keeping animals in unsanitary, cramped conditions, and unsafe transport enclosures. Notably, Franzen was filmed striking an elephant named Megu in the jaw with a bullhook and repeatedly whipping a tiger during shows (peta.org). He also beat an elephant named Kosti around the face and ears with a bullhook to “teach” her a lesson – an incident for which he received an official federal warningchange.org. In total, Franzen Bros. Circus has accumulated over 30 USDA citations for animal welfare violations since the early 2000s, including inadequate shelter for tigers in cold rain, failure to maintain enclosures, and even blocking federal inspectors’ access on multiple occasions. Tragically, Franzen’s own father was killed by a tiger during a circus performance – a reminder of how these stressed wild animals can lash out under abuse (peta.org). - Criminal record: Brian Franzen pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the case of the starved ponies (support.peta.org). Brian Franzen of Franzen Bros. Circus – a Florida-based circus exhibitor (USDA license #52-C-0038

Tarzan Zerbini Circus (and Two Tails Ranch) – Elephants & Exotic Animals Supplier: Loomis Bros. has hired the Tarzan Zerbini Circus to provide elephant acts. The current elephant touring with Loomis (2025) is reportedly “Patty”, a ~50-year-old female Asian elephant from Two Tails Ranch (the circus markets her under the stage name “Ellie”). Patty is an elderly elephant; activists have observed her limping and in questionable health, highlighting concerns about her welfare. 

Tarzan Zerbini Circus operation has an extensive record of AWA violations. The USDA has cited Tarzan Zerbini numerous times for failure to maintain a proper veterinary care program, inadequate animal housing space, and improper transport conditions (peta.org). Multiple elephants exhibited by Zerbini have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) – a serious zoonotic disease – and at least one elephant died from TB complications (peta.org). Zerbini’s elephants have also been involved in dangerous incidents: for example, elephants used by his circus have seriously injured handlers or members of the public during rides or shows (peta.org). -His Florida facility “Two Tails Ranch,” which boards elephants when they’re not touring, has its own violations: failure to maintain adequate perimeter fences to keep animals and people safe, dilapidated enclosures, and even keeping expired medications on site (peta.org). Public safety has been jeopardized by Zerbini’s acts – in one case an elephant escaped and roamed a city street, and in another, an elephant named Rajah attacked a visitor, causing severe injuries (a collapsed lung and broken ribs), due to a fence breach. Given these issues, it’s no surprise that USDA inspectors have repeatedly flagged Tarzan Zerbini for noncompliance, and local authorities have sometimes quarantined his elephants or barred them from performances for health reasons (peta.org). Tarzan Zerbini Circus holds USDA Exhibitor license #43-C-0012, and Two Tails Ranch is licensed under #58-C-0794. 

Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers – Tiger Act Supplier: Blaszak is a traveling tiger show based in Florida that has performed with Loomis Bros. Circus. Featuring five Bengal tigers (named Mohina, Ada, Tasha, Bella, and Zack) in Loomis’s 2025 tour (often advertised as “wild jungle cats” in the show program) He has been cited for serious animal welfare violations. At least seven USDA citations have been issued to Blaszak for failing to provide his tigers even the minimal space required by law (headlines.peta.org). Inspectors found that he would keep tigers confined in tiny travel cages for days on end – cages so small that the big cats could not fully stand, stretch, or even sit upright without hitting the ceiling. In one egregious instance, Blaszak’s company left six tigers locked in travel cages for two days straight without exercise or relief (support.peta.org). The USDA also cited Blaszak for failing to maintain safe enclosures (rusted, broken cage materials with sharp edges) and for not providing a sufficiently nutritious diet to his tigers. Moreover, Blaszak has repeatedly obstructed oversight – on at least 11 occasions, officials attempted to inspect his facility or animals but could not gain access, as no responsible adult was available to assist (a violation of AWA rules). Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission even denied Blaszak a permit to possess tigers in 2018 because his property did not meet the 5-acre minimum requirement – a decision he only overturned via a legal settlement that still bent the rules. His record also includes the unexplained deaths of two tiger cubs in his care (one died of a seizure/asphyxia in 2018) and lack of an emergency disaster plan for the animal. Blaszak’s frequent use of whips and prods to make tigers perform has been condemned by experts as causing severe psychological and physical distress to the animals (peta.org). Blaszak operates “Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers” based in FL, USDA Class C license #58-C-1249

Loomis Bros. Circus knowingly hires these exhibitors despite their long rap sheets. PETA notes that the circus “has a history of contracting with exhibitors known for abusing animals and violating animal welfare laws”(support.peta.org). Each of the above suppliers has been named and shamed for their conduct: Franzen repeatedly beat elephants and whipped tigers, Zerbini’s elephants have injured people and fallen ill under dubious care (peta.orgpeta.org), and Blaszak’s tigers have endured cramped confinement and neglect. By extension, Loomis Bros. is exposing animals and the public to these same dangers and cruelty.

Loomis Brothers Circus Misconduct and Owner Involvement
The Loomis Bros. Circus itself – led by owner Justin Loomis – has been the focus of growing controversy. Justin Loomis founded and runs the circus, and while he promotes it as “classic family entertainment,” he continues to include archaic wild-animal acts that many communities view as inhumanesupport.peta.org. Under his leadership, the circus has flouted animal welfare concerns and sometimes even local rules: 

Defying Local Restrictions: In some cases, venues or municipalities have tried to restrict Loomis Bros. from bringing certain animals. For instance, Cullman County, Alabama, specified in its contract that Loomis Bros. could not bring elephants to a 2020 show due to concern for public safety and animal welfare. However, Loomis Bros. insisted they would bring elephants anyway. A circus representative told local media, “We absolutely will have [elephants]” despite the contract, and advertised elephants in show promotions. This disregard for local stipulations created confusion and public outcry in Cullman, drawing PETA’s attention and prompting officials to hold firm on barring the elephants.
Denial of Abuse: When confronted with the circus’s animal welfare record, Loomis Bros. management has been defensive. In response to PETA’s detailed complaint letter about the use of bullhooks and whips, Loomis’s Director of Media Relations stated: “We do NOT use any weapons on our animals and these claims are outrageous. Everything we do…is regulated by the government and we meet and often exceed these requirements.” (cullmantribune.com). This statement directly contradicts abundant evidence (including videos and USDA reports) that the circus’s hired animal handlers do use bullhooks, whips, and electric prods. The claim that they exceed welfare requirements is dubious, given the many citations issued to their contractors. Essentially, Loomis Bros. has denied wrongdoing even as multiple fairs, venues, and cities have canceled or opposed their shows due to animal cruelty concerns.

Loomis Bros. Citations: While most animal-related violations are attributed to the suppliers, Loomis Bros. Circus itself has not been immune from scrutiny. The USDA’s records show that Loomis Bros. holds an exhibitor license (likely for any animals they own or transport), and animal advocacy groups have requested all USDA records on Loomis’s operations (aphis.usda.gov). There are reports that Loomis Bros. Circus has received multiple USDA citations over the years as well. For example, one social media report mentioned “many USDA citations [that] Loomis Bros. has been charged with” for issues like trailer conditions and animal care. (Details of specific Loomis citations are harder to obtain due to USDA record keeping changes, but the association with cited exhibitors speaks for itself.) No known criminal charges have been filed against Justin Loomis or his circus, but the pattern of violations and public safety risks linked to their shows is well documented in regulatory records.

Public Backlash and Cancellations: Loomis Bros.’ poor reputation has led to a number of canceled shows and bans. In Florida, the Highlands County Fair Association (Sebring) canceled scheduled Loomis Bros. Circus performances after hearing from local residents and reviewing evidence of abuse. Over 23,000 PETA supporters and numerous locals spoke out, and Sebring officials noted that allowing the circus would violate the city’s new anti-bullhook ordinance. Similarly, the University of South Carolina–Aiken announced it would no longer host animal circuses after Loomis Bros. performed there, acknowledging the growing concern for animal welfare.  

In summary, Loomis Brothers Circus has become synonymous with outdated animal cruelty. The owner, Justin Loomis, continues to employ exhibitors with egregious records, allowing the use of painful training weapons (bullhooks, whips, pepper spray, electric prods) behind the scenes to make wild animals do unnatural tricks - peta.orgpeta.org. The circus’s stance and track record have prompted animal advocates to step up efforts to ban such practices in Florida, particularly as Loomis Bros. plans shows in communities like Charlotte County.

 

SIGN & SHARE if you believe Florida can do better. Let’s stop the suffering. Let’s shut this down.