Council Asked to Develop Bylaw to Ban Exotic Animal Circus

Monday, June 12, 2006 08:56 PM

Just as the days are gone when the "Circus" used to feature the "freak" shows, the days should be gone when exotic animals are used for entertainment. That’s the message fro the BCSPCA as it lobbied the City of Prince George to enact a bylaw banning exotic animal circuses from the city.

Animal welfare advocate Kathi Travers told Prince George City Council too often the animals are transported in cages that are too small, elephants need proper foot care and don’t get it, animals aren’t given anything to keep them stimulated and there are cases where animals are mentally abused in order to get them to perform.

"I am very proud to live in Prince George, and I am asking you to join 19 other B.C. communities in banning circuses which feature exotic animals forced to perform activities that are just not part of their natural behaviour."

Council Glen Scott says he attended the last such circus in town and didn't see any cruelty to animals, and noted the SPCA also inspected the event and didn't note any cruelty to animals.

Council has agreed to have Administration look at what other communities are doing in regard to this issue in order to see what steps may be taken.

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Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 08:56 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: owl on June 13 2006 12:34 AM

So, Councillor Scott attended a Circus and didn't see any cruelty to animals. He probably also did not see where the dove in the magic act came from.

Remember, Circus performers practice their art of deception every day and they are very good at it. Councillor Scott certainly does not stand a chance. Even enforcement officers are often fooled. As with many such cases, it takes experts and I think most will agree that Councillor Scott is not an expert in this matter.

Posted by: owl on June 13 2006 12:51 AM

Enforcement on a case-by-case basis certainly has its merits in many situations. Circuses, however, is not one of them as I understand it since they move around and are only seeen in each community for not much longer than a day. If it were a petting zoo which was resident in this City that would certainly be the preferred method from my point of view as well.

I suspect from a legal point of view, one would actually have to observe someone committing an act of "cruelty" and have recorded evidence or witnesses to the act. Thus, gathering evidence would have to take a concerted effort by an organization which can afford to follow such acts from one town to another to observe the animal related activities.

I suspect that the BCSPCA, which is funded by public donations, really does not have such resources. Other types of inspectors or law enforcers, such as building inspectors, health inspectors, police, bylaws enforcement officers, conservation officers, etc. are funded by tax money, not donations.

If the provincial government were to set up an entity, or use an existing entity to ensure compliance, I would go along with you.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on June 13 2006 7:18 AM

Kind of makes you wish you were on council so you could talk about the circus animals.

Maybe next week city council could take a half hour and talk about what quality of paper the citizens of Prince George should use in the bottom of our budgie cages.

Posted by: libover30 on June 13 2006 9:00 AM

As for not being able to see them, you can view them each day if you would like at http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php

An act of cruelty should be seen as one who takes an animal and forces it to live in our environment! We are using them for profit, and this is wrong. WE are harming these creatures when we make them live in cages and in areas where they can't live as they were intended too, then it becomes abuse.

My statement to others who feel it isn't cruel to cage an animal, I would have to say to them, what if someone took your freedom away and locked you into a closet for the rest of your life, would you not see this as abuse? I think you would, and it is not fair that we do it to others.

Posted by: owl on June 13 2006 9:16 AM

http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/ram/hawthorn.ram

Exotic animal acts are like icebergs. The general public does not see the 90% or so which is "under water". You can see one of the telltale signs of abuse .. the swinging of the heads ....

Here is a news item of one year ago about the placement of the Hawthorn circus elephants.

http://www.elephants.com/media/northwest_herald_6_22_05.htm