So the carnivalist gets to use bardic performances using handle animal rather than perform.
But only the 6th level Trained Legerdemain specifies where the animal that's performing has to be.
1) So where do the pets have to be? The ability says it works like bardic performance, so the effect is emanating from the rogue, not the animal. That suggests the animal needs to be either adjacent to the rogue or within hearing distance to implement the handle animal check.
I think it's the first one because RAW you could have a pet dancing unseen on the other side of the campsite and it would still fascinate people who couldn't see it (eta: there's not even a written requirement for there to be a pet present at all). I think it needs to be adjacent and visible, ( the latter per the bardic performance guidelines).
2) Also, which pets are eligible to use the abilities with? The way i read it, any pet would work regardless of tricks known. I'd say that means any familiar, AC, or animal owned by the rogue (possibly with an attitude of helpful.)
Bump. Hoping for thoughts before my game this evening.