Circuses never stopped using animals.
There are a great number of animal charities in the UK. There are hundreds of formal organizations and many private ones.
Granted animals that are part of circuses have some definite disadvantages to put up with in life. However they are expensive and vets bills are also expensive so it is in the interest of the owners of these creatures to look after them as well as possible. The most obvious examples of animal abuse I have ever seen at circuses is that inflicted on animals by the passing public and their children. In any case very few circusses have animals these days.
1932
1912
Around 10 at every circus a year
1972
The year 2000.
The last year for silver dimes and quarters was 1964.
1987 was the last year
1953
1986 1981 in Citation.
An Impact Assessment dated Dec. 19, 2012 was produced for the British Parliament. It indicated that as of December 2009, there were four travelling circuses in the UK that were using some 47 wild animals.