Future of circuses with animals on county ballot
Friday, December 2, 2011
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Animal rights activists in Clatsop County have convinced the board of commissioners to put the future of circuses featuring animals on the ballot.
Voters will vote on an ordinance to ban such circuses in May, the Daily Astorian reports (http://bit.ly/ufGGLD ).
"This is stuff that has disturbed me for much of my life," said Carol Newman, a proponent of the ban.
At the center of the controversy is the use of certain animal taming techniques and tools. Those include a "bull hook," used to guide elephants by driving the hook into the elephant's skin.
Some within the circus industry say bull hooks are analogous to dog leashes, Newman said, a point with which she strongly disagreed.
"Elephants are not intended to be up-close-and-personal animals," Newman said.
The ban would cover elephants, as well as exotic animals as defined by state statute, including large cats, any bears except black bears, primates and large reptiles. The referendum makes exceptions for 4-H animals, animals used for educational shows and rodeos.
Feld Entertainment, the company that operates the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, said in a letter to the commission that the company's elephant management practices are in line with federal guidelines.
Company vice president for government relations Thomas Albert urged the board to "reject the efforts of a small minority of activists to impose their personal philosophy on the larger community."
The letter was sent on Oct. 31. On Nov. 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $270,000 fine agreement with the company for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, dating from 2007 to 2011. It's the largest civil penalty levied under the Animal Welfare Act in its 45-year history.
County leaders say they've looked at Redmond, Wash., as a model of a city that has banned the exhibition of wild or exotic animals. Other Washington state cities, including Port Townsend, have enacted similar bans.
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Animal rights activists in Clatsop County have convinced the board of commissioners to put the future of circuses featuring animals on the ballot.
Voters will vote on an ordinance to ban such circuses in May, the Daily Astorian reports (http://bit.ly/ufGGLD ).
"This is stuff that has disturbed me for much of my life," said Carol Newman, a proponent of the ban.
At the center of the controversy is the use of certain animal taming techniques and tools. Those include a "bull hook," used to guide elephants by driving the hook into the elephant's skin.
Some within the circus industry say bull hooks are analogous to dog leashes, Newman said, a point with which she strongly disagreed.
"Elephants are not intended to be up-close-and-personal animals," Newman said.
The ban would cover elephants, as well as exotic animals as defined by state statute, including large cats, any bears except black bears, primates and large reptiles. The referendum makes exceptions for 4-H animals, animals used for educational shows and rodeos.
Feld Entertainment, the company that operates the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, said in a letter to the commission that the company's elephant management practices are in line with federal guidelines.
Company vice president for government relations Thomas Albert urged the board to "reject the efforts of a small minority of activists to impose their personal philosophy on the larger community."
The letter was sent on Oct. 31. On Nov. 23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $270,000 fine agreement with the company for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, dating from 2007 to 2011. It's the largest civil penalty levied under the Animal Welfare Act in its 45-year history.
County leaders say they've looked at Redmond, Wash., as a model of a city that has banned the exhibition of wild or exotic animals. Other Washington state cities, including Port Townsend, have enacted similar bans.
No comments:
Post a Comment