All the visitors were thrilled; children and adults alike laughed at the clowns, marveled at the acrobats, admired the beautiful animals, and held their breath during the big cat act. The close bond between Martin Lacey Jr. and his animals never fails to amaze. He cuddles the lions as if they were little house cats, not animals with such impressive teeth.

And we had the opportunity to have a very interesting conversation with this extraordinary man, Martin Lacey Jr., before the evening performance.

Watch this remarkable video in which Martin Lacey Jr. explains how he sees "his family" and what he does to ensure his animals are well cared for.