Company that books Bengal tiger show coming to Kane County Fair defends reputation of tiger show owner

The company that books a Bengal tiger show set to take place at next month’s Kane County Fair is is defending the reputation of the tiger show owner amid concerns that have been raised about the show.

Kane County Animal Control Director Brett Youngsteadt said he has received numerous comments about the Bengal Tiger Encounter show, which is part of next month’s Kane County Fair. The fair is set to take place from July 14 to July 18 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles.

In response, Youngsteadt said the county does not have the authority to shut down the show, but that the department will strictly enforce state and local statutes regarding the humane care and treatment of animals.

“Kane County Animal Control takes animal care and safety very seriously,” Youngsteadt said in a statement. “We will ensure that every animal act that comes through this county is treated humanely. We will conduct a thorough inspection of everything – animals and enclosures included – as soon as they arrive in Kane County and continue to monitor them while they are in our jurisdiction.”

Todd Boltin, president and CEO of Ohio-based Variety Attractions, Inc., which books Bruno Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers show, noted the show has previously appeared at the Kane County Fair seven times.

“If there were any issues or problems or violations with his show, first of all, we wouldn’t be booking it,” Boltin said. “And second of all, the fair wouldn’t be booking it back that many times.”

Boltin said there are acts that his company won’t do business with because they have had violations and mistreat their animals.

“Bruno’s animals are his family,” he said. “Our company used to book his mother when she had the show before he took it over. He took it over in the early 2000s and we’ve been booking it probably 40 years.”