SPCA strikes again????

What a foolish bylaw, ban exotic animals even when they are well cared for, yet allow the rodeo regardless how it treats animals, a big double standard, but typical of what passes in our city.

That bylaw seriously need to be killed, if animals are being abused by circuses, or other performers, then existing animal cruelty laws can be used to stop them.

But banning exotic animals just prevents our children, from experiencing the fact that the world is bigger than their neighbourhoods, and that looking outside, they can find many good experiences.

As always the pendulum swings - it's either one extreme or another, there doens't seem to be any reasonability this days

I think we need to bring back "freak shows".

I look at it this way, there are no standards for these kinds of shows. In many, if not most industries there are some sortr of inudstrial standards which the industries themselves have imposed on members or, if that is not the case, the government has imposed on them.

You cannot open a barber shop or hair salon without meeting a government standard.

In this particular case, there are two areas of safety that one ought ot be concerned about. One is the well-being of the people, who are frequently children, watching, and the other is the well-being of the animal.

There are no standards in place. We do not hear about the industry trying to create standards, getting shows like this to become members, and meeting the standards. They could even join in and assist with developing the standards. That is what conscientious industries do.

This City is not uncommon anymore. There are something like 20 cities, including all the major ones, where shows such as this are not allowed.

In fact, there is a new provincial law that will override any of these municipal laws that prohibits the keeping of "exotics". There is a grandfathering. So, the animals die off. End of keeping such animals unless one is an accredited zoo or some such similar standard.

One of the signs that Safari Jeff and Shannon need to improve their business? Get to know the laws in the province and communities they do business in. Good businesses do that as part of their due diligence for their own purposes of scheduling tours and shows.

They were lucky they got the money. I do not know how the Pine Centre contract reads. But, good contracts have a clause in them which states that the contractor must meet all laws and regulations. The onus is put on the contractor to be diligent about that.

Well then, lets grandfather the whole process involved with eating meat, Gus. If you are all that worried about exotic animals why not include just plain animals as well. I mean, i am aure a pig isnt aware that it's welfare is less important than a snake is (just by virtue of its species and where it originally came from). So lets all stop the hypocracy shall we? If an exotic animal is well cared for it is a lot better off than 90 percent or commercially raised, short lived domestic food stock. Certainly, if it is male it has a much longer life expectancy than our beloved domestic livestock. I treat my stock humanely, but almost all of the male animals are dead before their 3rd birthday.
Using your freak show example, PG would only host freak shows involving freaks raised specifically for the purpose, or freaks who were native (hence non exotic). If that sounds stupid it is because it bloody well is. The supporters of the exotic animal bylaw ought to take the hint.
By the way, the provincial law, enacted to protect PEOPLE only restricts ownership of species deemed to pose a significant danger to humans, not ALL exotics. Further, the city passed its bylaw unilaterally, without any call, or desire for input from the exotic animal 'industry' (whatever that is). As far as i can tell, it was an effort to appease animals rights activists and the SPCA. I doubt very much if even a herculean effort by the owners or the green safari could have made much headway against the river of rhetoric that was flowing from a few local zealots at the time.

By the way, in a note to 'Safari Jeff': No bad apples spoiled it for you. The bylaw was not, as is so often the case a kneejerk reaction to an eggregious case of animal abuse. It doesnt pay to cowtow to the animal rights people by trying to prove you are worthy of exception, especially by agreeing that there was good cause for the law in the first place. I look forward to his modified safari, involving the unique experience of seeing, and even touching living specimens of canis lupus familiaris and felis catus (dogs and cats to those of us who grew up in more wonderous, less regulated lives).

"If an exotic animal is well cared for it is a lot better off than 90 percent or commercially raised, short lived domestic food stock."

Animal protien is a necessity. Entertainment is not.

Stupid Stupid Stupid, SPCA is getting as nuts as PETA. This is just a show folks, how else does one get to see and appreciate these animals, oh I forgot TV. Just wonderful.

"IF AN EXOTIC ANIMAL IS WELL CARED FOR it is a lot better off than 90 percent or commercially raised, short lived domestic food stock."

Two things about that.

1. IF ... IF .. IF ... so how do we know? There are farm standards for raising farm animals. They are easy to enforce. There are no standards for these shows. They might be good as far as animal treatment goes. They certainly have a national following. So did Steve Irwin. He had an international following in the name of education. He paid for his arrogance. His family got the benefit of the dollars he took in. Get some standards in place and it might be another story.

2. An exotic animal such as a cayman, monkey, tiger, etc. is different than a pig, cattle, etc. They are, in fact, like deer, bears, etc. Whether they are bred domestically or taken from the wild as young or adults, their inborn nature is to live their life in the wild. We have had laws for decades that such indigenous animals are not allowed to be held captive in BC or any other province. Up until last year, exotics were forgotten about. You could not have a beaver to show them in a show like this. But could use a cayman. You could not use a black bear from BC, but could use a brown bear from Sibera or even an Amur Tiger bred in BC or in Sibera.

So, if you wish to fight to have these shows for education purposes, start fighting to bring Moose, Elk, Grizzlies, Bobcats, cougars, etc. to Toronto. The reasons why they should be there or why they should not be there is precisely the same as for exotics.

This is just a show folks, how else does one get to see and appreciate these animals?

Go to Africa and go on a safari!!!!! same as all other animals.

Want to see a cougar? Bait them some meat in your backyard!!!

Want a bear???? try an apple tree and no fence!!!

How else???... good lord, do you not have any imagination!!!! Does everything have to be fed you with a spoon??

The bylaw has to go. My kids were heart broken when they got to the mall and there were no animals. Try explaining that to a two year old in tears. Animal cruelty is one thing but banning an exhibit of well care for species that my kids just won't be able to see any other way is fanatical at best.

I remember one comment from one of the individuals responsible for this bylaw being something along the lines of if you want to see an elephant go to Africa. Great, send me the money, my suitcase is ready.

Sadly they would probably have an easier time getting them in if the animals were stuffed.

You are sending the wrong message to your children. You are perpetuating the keeping of animals that were not bred over thousands of years to be kept as pets.

These are not pets. There is a perfectly good petting farm on the hill - Noah's Ark, I think.

What gives your child the right to see anything your child wants to see? Teach him/her why this is changing.

You are young enough to understand these things and be part of the change that respects animals.

There is nothing animal rights about this. This is respect for livingcreatures and an understanding of the nature of the creatures we share the world with.

Then again, maybe tomorrow an alien ship will come, grab you and your kids up, put you in a nice cage that looks like a house and ship you through the universe as one of the exhibits from the exotic travels.

You will be relieved of living with others like you, going to work to fend for yourself, playing soccer, going to movies, visiting your family ..... you know, the things that come natural to you. You, my friend will be well taken care of for the rest of your life. There will be no cruelty, as long as you do not try to step outside your cage .. er ... house.

Good grief Gus, it's just a bunch of animals and a dumb bylaw. I have pets at home and so do many of you, including lizards that are kept in cages at home or fish in aquariums. My dogs are caged in kennels when I'm not home to protect them and my home. I don't agree with this bylaw and these exotic animals should be allowed. Hopefully, someday this bylaw will be gone.

We all went around this one when the circus that had no animals came to town last year. I took the position that it was needed to have exotic animals available for view and interaction so our children could smell and touch these creature in order to instill an appreciation. I still hold that position.

Almost every bit of legislation in existence was created in response to some bone head doing something bone headed. The SPCA was able to get the bylaw passed because there were enough abuses and so little deterrent or repercussions to abusers. Now we are here. Zoos with "domestic" animals and circus' with no exotic animals. It really is a travesty that greed and neglect was so rampant and severe that our children will only see wild creatures on the net or in a book. It just does not do justice to the size, magnificence, and pure thrill of seeing a real live tiger.

It no wonder that we have had at least 2 instances of people climbing into a tiger's cage to pet him. They see a picture then think, "oohh, so cuddly and soft." When the reality is far more dangerous.

Gus,

Exotic just means normal from a different country. Would you have a problem if they brought a moose to China? Moose are exotic there. Here we kill them and eat them.

As for my upcoming intergalactic travels, might be kinda neat ;)

Exotic pet - non common pet
Exotic species - species not native to an area
Exotic dancer - a type of dancer or stripper
From answers.com
1. From another part of the world; foreign: exotic tropical plants in a greenhouse. See synonims at foreign.
2. Intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange: "If something can be explained simply, in a familiar way, then it is best to avoid more exotic explanations" (Chet Raymo). See synonims at fantastic.
3. Of or involving striptease: an exotic dancer.
From Merriam-Webster
Main Entry: 1ex·ot·ic
Pronunciation: \ig-ˈzä-tik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin exoticus, from Greek exōtikos, from exō
Date: 1599

1 : introduced from another country : not native to the place where found
2 archaic : foreign, alien
3 : strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual
4 : of or relating to striptease

Does not mean normal from another country, means not from here, where ever here is. So a moose in china would be exotic, the same as a panda is exotic to us.

Save a seat for me.

I say good! Stop showing and catching wild animals.
And why in the hell do some of you cage your dogs? We have had 3 dogs in 30 years and not one was ever subject to such a cruel practice as a jail cell!

Of the 3 dogs 2 were full size 90lbs+ and free to roam the house while we were at work.
Never were they a problem.We kept all meds and dangerous chemicals locked up.

IMo i think caging your dog in a lil tiny jail while you roam free is just plain sick! And i betcha, that, as soon as you get home and unlock their cell door they run around out of control and you can't for the life of you clue in as to why!

My rant for the week...

FYI

The bylaw was passed by the city! The local shelter did not have any involment in talks or meetings during the process..That being said the bcspca does support and agree with the byaw.