People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors to protect circus animals.

PETA wants the county to ban the use of bullhooks, electric prods, and other devices that the group contends are commonly used to inflict pain on elephants. PETA accuses the animal care director for Carson & Barnes Circus of being a chronic animal abuser.

The circus will be in Powhatan on May 20. The circus maintains on its website that circus elephants are well tended and previous investigations prompted by PETAs allegation have discovered no wrongdoing.

The supervisors met Monday night and PETAs request did not come up.