Local news coverage of City Council meeting:

http://www.lovelycitizen.com/story/2133058.html

PETA supports city's proposed circus ban

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

By Alana Cook, Citizen.Editor.Eureka@gmail.com

Despite emotional appeals from local business owners and residents, and PETA's support for a proposed ordinance banning future circuses from operating within city limits, the show will go on.

The Eureka Springs City Council on Monday night received cheers from a crowd gathered in city hall when the council voted 4-2 in favor of passing the ordinance, drafted by City Attorney Tim Weaver last week.

PETA issued a press release last week praising the council for the ordinance. But city law stipulates that unless there's an emergency, an ordinance must be read three times in three separate meetings before being passed, and it takes 30 days until it goes into effect. Monday's reading was the first. Since the Carson & Barnes Circus is scheduled to perform at Lake Leatherwood City Park on Nov. 5, the city will not be able to pass the ordinance in time to stop this event. 

Alderwoman Mickey Schneider said the proposed ordinance should be fine-tuned. 

"It will take about two-and-a-half months before this becomes law so people will have time to chime in," Schneider told the Citizen. 

Though Schneider voted in favor of the proposed ordinance, she said that unlike 10 years ago, animal welfare laws are so strict that abusers can no longer move from one venue to another once they are fired and because of activism by groups like PETA, companies are more careful about how they treat their animals. 

During the meeting, council members passed around vegan elephant-shaped chocolates that PETA sent as a thank you for drafting the ordinance. 

"Kind people are appalled by the thought of a circus such as Carson & Barnes chaining, beating and shocking elephants and other animals in their city," PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders said in a news release. "PETA looks forward to seeing Eureka Springs join the progressive cities across the U.S. that have taken a firm stand against cruel circuses that profit off animals' suffering." 

The performances will benefit Eureka Springs School District's 21st Century After- School Program. The district will no longer receive funding from a state grant so the school board and parents will be responsible for continuing the program. 

Alderman James DeVito said that humanity has progressed beyond the point of needing to be entertained by "freak shows and carnivals." 

The proposed ordinance will target traveling shows and won't affect the Great Passion Play or Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. A monkey used in the magic show at Intrigue Theater will be exempt from the city ordinance, as will rabbits at East by West. 

Tracellen Kelly, manager of the Good Shepherd Humane Society Thrift Shop, was one of many citizens who spoke in support of the proposed ordinance.

Melissa Greene, who holds a seat on the city Planning Commission, spoke on behalf of herself and thanked local newspapers for being fair in their coverage of the issue. In her plea to the council, she referenced last week's guest column written by Barbara Byrd, vice president of Carson & Barnes.

"Byrd, who says she is the vice president of her family's business but she's actually the owner, says the circus' treatment of animals is 'acceptable and humane.' This is prison lingo."

Greene referenced a 2012 settlement agreement between Carson & Barnes and United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials regarding the handling and care of the animals. According to the agreement, Carson & Barnes was fined $3,700 for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Byrd floats over the USDA report and talks about APHIS [inspectors] who aren't allowed into the animal training sessions," Greene said.

According to the USDA's website, the AWA requires people who operate public exhibitions of animals to "provide their animals with adequate care and treatment in the areas of housing, handling, sanitation, nutrition, water, veterinary care and protection from extreme weather and temperatures."

In her guest column, Byrd wrote that the circus meets those requirements.

"In regard to USDA inspections, Carson & Barnes always cooperates and takes any issue seriously. Our USDA license is in good standing because we do so. If any issues are noted, they have typically been in reference to maintenance, not the treatment of our animals," Byrd's letter said.

Rachel Brix, an animal rights advocate and former member of the City Parks Commission who has been especially vocal on the issue at previous meetings, passed out copies of a proposed amendment to the AWA introduced last spring by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. The amendment would restrict the use of exotic and non-domesticated animals in traveling circuses and exhibitions.

"The circus hides behind spin doctors. You can't find a single photo of positive reinforcement in animal training. The circus enslaves and prostitutes animals for money. Let's join 21 other states and be the first in Arkansas to say no to the circus," Brix said.

Greene refuted Byrd's claims that animal rights activists advocate for emotional disconnection between animals and people.

We aren't supposed to be connected to animals except for the ones who are domesticated. The rest we co-exist with," Greene said.

She went on to say that people who are protesting the circus represent the majority of Eureka Springs' citizens.

"If we are just a small community of animal lovers, then why do we have five to six rescues?"

Trella Laughlin, a local activist and retired Stanford-educated journalist, said she is planning a peaceful protest the day of the event near Lake Leatherwood Park, to make people aware that they "should not support animal abuse."

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