About a dozen people held up signs outside the USA Flea Market off U.S. 19 this weekend, protesting the circus on the market’s property and hoping to get others to join their cause.

“We’re here for Nosey,” said Jan Pettifor. “The aim of this protest and the rest of the weekend is to highlight Nosey’s suffering.”

Pettifor and the other activists said Nosey is old, sick and mistreated. They say she should be retired to a sanctuary.

“She needs to be with, get with other elephants, she needs to roam free, she needs to retire,” said Amy Waz. “The only way we can do that is to (get) people going in here to not buy a ticket.”

Nosey is an African elephant who is about 32 years old. She’s owned by Hugo Leibel, who owns the Great American Family Circus. Leibel spoke with us on Friday and said he’s raised the elephant since she was a few months old.

“Little orphan, she didn’t know nothing,” he said. “She was looking for mom and dad, and so we are her mom and dad.”

Leibel said he’s used to people protesting his show. He travels all over the country with his family, tent and animals. He said the protesters' message is untrue and out of context, but he also says it’s their right to say it.

“They can say whatever they want to,” Leibel said. “We are regulated by the state of Florida, we are regulated by the federal government, we are regulated by the local authorities and they don’t see nothing wrong and we don’t do nothing bad. Those animals are happy and healthy.”

When we stopped by the circus on Friday, Leibel said he had canceled the day’s shows. Heavy rain had soaked Pasco County that morning, and the grounds were soft and muddy. He said the show would be back on this weekend.

When we came back on Saturday to see Nosey, Leibel told us he did not bring Nosey and wouldn’t bring her on Sunday either. He said that was the original plan, though he told us differently on Friday.

Hugo Leibel provided this photo of him with Nosey. Nosey was not at the circus Friday or Saturday. (Hugo Leibel)

The protesters said they see Nosey’s absence as a sign of victory – but the fight isn’t over.

“People are starting to come around,” Karen Liwienski said. “This is a step in the right direction.”

According to the United State Department of Agriculture – the agency that regulates the ownership of exotic animals like Leibel’s – he is still licensed to own Nosey.

In 2011, the USDA filed a complaint against Leibel for violating the Animal Welfare Act. The 11-page docket includes allegations of not taking care of Nosey’s skin, keeping her chained too tightly, and not keeping her safe around the public.

Leibel was fined $7,500 and agreed to no longer violate the Animal Welfare Act. As of this publication, Leibel’s license is still valid with the agency.

Some protesters outside the Flea Market feel the USDA doesn’t do enough.

“The laws are extremely vague when it comes to animals and it’s almost impossible to get them protected,” Waz said, “We feel the USDA should be doing a better job at monitoring Nosey.”

Leibel said Nosey is family – and he loves her like his own children.

“Animals need a lot of love, and a lot of food,” he said. “If they think I am doing this to make quote 'money off them,' I don’t think so. The elephant eats 300, 400 pounds of food a day.”

Leibel said he won’t step down. He even sees the attention as beneficial.

“These ladies that are standing out front holding the signs, they give us a lot of great publicity,” he said. “People look, and then people come in, watch the show, and then they make their own mind up.”

Though he didn’t bring Nosey, Leibel said he will continue to tour with her.

For more information about the activist group, check out Action for Nosey Now

. Nosey also has her own Facebook page, called Nosey the Amazing Elephant, run by the Leibel family.