Beth Keener recalled her sense of horror as she read the colorful flier in March announcing that the circus was coming to the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

The mother of a 13- and 2-year-old read the description of Florida-based Circus Pages circus and thought: "I can't believe we are still doing this.''

She had been to circuses as a child and was never comfortable with the cowering elephants and other exotic animals performing tricks.

"I had disturbing memories about it," Keener said. "I didn't think it was right to have tigers be whipped."

Keener and a group of like-minded friends gathered more than 1,000 petition signatures opposing the event and presented them to the Delaware City Council. And they were heard.

The council first denied Circus Pages a permit, citing insufficient time to vet the operation.

It since has proposed legislation to deny permits for any circus that uses wild or exotic animals, which would effectively bar the traditional circus inside city limits.

"We were told we would be the first in Ohio to do this. So it's kind of a big deal," said Darren Shulman, the city's law director, who has been drafting amendments to city laws ever since, hoping to satisfy all sides.

The council is expected to vote on the final legislation in February.

The animal-rights debate follows others nationally that pressured the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to stop using performance elephants and, at least in part, to announce this month the end of its circus entirely. The Delaware arguments included references to wild animals set loose in Zanesville five years ago, ethical practices in farming and the food industry and the efficacy of zoos.

"This was really driven by the people coming to council," said Shulman. "I also think it's a little bit of an end of an era and people thinking differently about animals."

The circus has traditionally held performances in the fairground's coliseum, which is within the city limits. But it could sidestep a ban by housing its acts in a tent on part of the fairground outside the city.

Fair Manager Sandy Kuhn said she and her board welcome the circus, if conducted properly.

She has researched Circus Pages' inspection record since 2014 and found no violations. Federal agriculture officials inspect animals annually before permitting them in states.

"I felt comfortable in that they know what they're doing," said Kuhn, who was raised on a farm. "It's an opportunity, in my world, for family entertainment, besides sitting at home with video games."

The rural makeup of much of the county makes exotic animals more appealing than farm animals, she said.

"Farm animals don't get me too excited, but I love the zoo. And I kind of see the circus as an extension of that," she said.

But Keener and others say zoo animals, in a more natural setting, entertain without being prodded.

She said her community is doing the right thing. "For a town that loves its people, it just disturbed me to think that we would be OK with the mistreatment of animals."

An employee of Circus Pages referred questions to a marketing employee, who didn't return calls.

As circus season approaches, other circuses say they are being unfairly attacked.

Kelly Miller Circus, based in Oklahoma, has shows in Ohio and throughout the Midwest and New England using camels, zebras and Asian elephants, among other animals.

"They've been in human care for years and they are pampered and protected. Nobody is going to hunt them and take their claws off and chop their face off," said Tavana Brown, a former aerialist who is now general manager of the operation. "We believe they are part of the traditional circus."

Like zoos, she said, many circuses try to educate the public about habitat conservation and endangered species.

Ohio, she said, "tends to be a combative state for us. We do encounter activists there. It's difficult because their mind is set on not having animals in the circus and that's all there is to it."

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso