CHARLOTTE, NC- Families love the show, but local animal activists are protesting the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at the Cable Box this weekend

"We'd like to educated the public about what really goes on behind the scenes to get to the performance," said Stacey Havens, co-founder of the Charlotte Animal Welfare Meet-up group. 

Havens says exotic animals in the show are mistreated and demeaned.

"It's obvious that it's not natural for them to behave in this way. It's not natural for a tiger to jump through a flaming hoop or an elephant to stand on it's head. These animals are forces to travel around the country in trucks and cages and trains,” said Havens.

The Animal Welfare Act is in place to establish humane care of animals at circuses and other events. Under the law, the animals are required to receive veterinary care, proper housing, and protection.

Ringling  Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus’ animal care specialist, Ryan Henning says he and a team devote their lives to ensure the animals are cared for around the clock.

"We spend over six million dollars every year providing food and veterinary care for all the animals here on the show," said Henning.

Henning says the animal's play time activities include a lot of what the audience sees in the show. But through reward and repetition, specialists say they showcase the animal's natural behaviors.

"You can just look at Asia here and see how healthy, alert, and thriving all of our animals are. They receive the highest standards of care 24/7. They're like our family members," said Henning.

Local animal activists believe the animals are put through terrible training and live in harsh conditions

"When people realize that, they won't support it, that's what we're hoping," said Havens.

The US Department of Agriculture announced in November that Ringling Bros. parent company, Feld Entertainment, agreed to pay a $270,000 fine.

The reason -- the circus allegedly violated the welfare act from 2007 to 2011.