EVANSVILLE, Wis. -- The circus is in town in Evansville, but not without controversy.

The Alliance For Animals staged a protest, not specifically against the Liebling Brothers Circus, but over concerns about a lack of visible water for the animals.

The group said its main goal was to educate people about the reality of abuse in the circus business.

"We've seen undercover video of lots of circuses showing animals suffer greatly," said Alliance's Lori Nitzel. "We have concerns with all circuses and the way the animals are treated. They're not volunteers and are forced to do tricks."

Circus owner Tom Liebling finds the accusations absurd.

"All these animals are inspected by the federal government and state government," said Liebling. "I can't move off the lot without a health certificate."

Gayle Puhl has been attending circuses all of her life. She said the protests are unwarranted at Liebling Brothers.

"If you're really cruel to an animal it leaves physical and behavioral signs," said Puhl. "I just fed that elephant peanuts. I don't see that it's being mistreated."

"Sometimes it's obvious that an animal is suffering if there is no water or it looks tired," said Nitzel. "But a lot of it is unseen."

Liebling has been running the show for 50 years and said the animals mean as much to him as his own kids.

"Tonight at midnight when you're not going to be here and they're not going to be here, I'm going to give him hay and grain," said Liebling.

He also adds he could have chosen to become a doctor, but instead chose a life with the circus because he loves what he does.

Liebling told WISC-TV he has been offered $200,000 by a zoo for his elephant, but turned it down because he didn't want to part with his family.

The group was asked by police to stand away from the entrance. They obliged.