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Animal Victims despite the procedure, the circus continues to offer performances in General Fernández Oro, while the municipality investigates the sanitary conditions and the justice system takes action on the case of animal cruelty.
The Circo Dihany, a well-known itinerant show, became news in the town of General Fernández Oro, in the province of Río Negro, after a court order allowed a raid due to reports of animal abuse.
During the intervention, more than ten dogs were rescued from critical overcrowded conditions.
Complaints about the animal victims of cruelty
According to local media, the operation was carried out following multiple complaints about the state of the animals.
It was confirmed that the dogs were confined in a trailer, tied by the neck with ropes, in an environment surrounded by excrement and exposed to total unsanitariness.
After the operation, the animals were relocated to receive the necessary veterinary care.
Daniel Molina, the circus owner, stated that the dogs belonged to an elderly man who lived in a trailer located on the same property.
According to his version, the circus staff did not have permission to enter that area, so they were unaware of the conditions in which the animals were found.
Despite the raid and the discovery of the animal victims of animal cruelty, the circus was not closed down. Through their official Instagram account, Circo Dihany announced that they will offer their last week of shows in the city.
However, the company responsible for ticket sales has indicated on their website that the event is listed as “not for sale”.
The municipal government issued a statement detailing: “The Commerce and Food Safety Department intervened by carrying out an inspection to grant commercial approval to the circus, verifying compliance with the required conditions regarding security, hygiene, and structure”.
It was also specified that this department does not have the authority to monitor private spaces of the employees. For this reason, the complaint was processed by the Municipal Department of Animal Welfare, and the raid was carried out in conjunction with the Police, thus achieving the rescue of the affected animals.
Previous Controversies and Incident History
This is not the first time that Circo Dihany has been at the center of controversy. In May 2024, while performing in Caleta Olivia (Santa Cruz), Lautaro Bustos, a 21-year-old trapeze artist from San Antonio Oeste, fell from over six meters high during an acrobatic act, without a safety net or harnesses.
Bustos suffered a fracture in the fifth cervical vertebra, spinal cord compression, and lung injuries, which kept him hospitalized in intensive care with a reserved prognosis.
The family of the young man denounced the lack of Occupational Hazards Insurance (ART) and a formal contract, so they initiated a legal process for the circus to cover the medical costs. On the other hand, Molina stated that the artists do have insurance.
In another incident, which occurred two years ago during the Children’s Day weekend, the circus made headlines in Santa Cruz.
On that occasion, two acrobats suffered injuries during the act known as the “Wheel of Death”, in which both were moving at high speed on motorcycles inside a metal sphere, just centimeters apart. A miscalculation led to a collision at the top of the structure, leaving one of the artists unconscious.
Subsequently, the circus reported that both motorcyclists were “fine” and that one of them had suffered a collarbone fracture.
“Both are stable, recovering to return to their activity without any problems,” concluded the statement. A local media outlet pointed out that there was no ambulance contracted present during the show.
Without the sparkle of the lights or the laughter of the audience, the activity of Circo Dihany continues under public and judicial scrutiny, with the focus on the safety of its artists and the welfare of the animals. Controversies and complaints continue to shape the course of this traditional show.
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