From the News-Herald: http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20150107/willowick-continues-talks-on-possible-circus-ban

By Amy Popik, The News-Herald

Kelly Miller Circus general manager addressed Willowick City Council members and a full house of people from across Northeast Ohio at a regular council meeting Jan. 6. 

Council members are considering two ordinances that would put a stop to the annual Kelly Miller Circus visit to Dudley Park. 

The ordinances, one that would prohibit a person or organization from bringing exotic and wild animals into the city and another that would prohibit the use of bull hooks and similar devices on animals, were placed on second reading and tabled at the meeting, with a vote expected for the first week of February. 

Jim Royal, general manager of the Oklahoma-based Kelly Miller Circus, said the show has been coming to the city for over 10 years and addressed the way his circus treats animals. 

“We are always in a public location with public access 24 hours a day,” he said at the meeting. “We give two performances, dismantle the equipment and stay overnight. There is no behind the scenes. The animals that we have are members of our family and our community. They are cared for. We treat them with great respect because they are members of our team.”

He added that personally, he prefers not to have animals because of the expense, but audiences around the country want to see animals in the circus, and he would be willing to provide documentation of the health of the animals. 

“Our animals are inspected every 30 days by an independent veterinarian,” Royal said. “If there was the least evidence of abuse, it would show up and they would have that information documented. We are inspected by the USDA and more importantly, in the community we are inspected by police, fire, safety, housing, electrical and other departments. We are inspected daily, and we are inspected by the public who get up-close to the animals ... and see animals and people working closely together.”

The circus does carry insurance, and he said they must be in control of the animals at all time. 

People in opposition to the circus believe the animals are mentally and physically abused, citing the use of bull hooks to control and train animals, animals restrained and confined and seeing elephants sway back and forth, while others are concerned about the safety of having wild animals in the city. 

While others in favor of the circus in the audience said they look forward to it every year, expressing it is a fun, family event that residents are proud to have in the city. 

A group of residents drafted a letter urging council to vote no and read in part, “We are disappointed that the City of Willowick has chosen to accept the ideologically motivated agenda of animal rights activists over the years of knowledge and experience of animal trainers and husbandry experts. No doubt you are inundated with lies, doctored video propaganda, half truths, and hearsay. Please don’t take away the right of Willowick citizens to choose for themselves if they want to attend a circus with animals.”

Melissa Shy of Willowick said she spent countless hours of her time researching circus abuse and compiled a booklet for council on studies and research done about animal treatment in circuses. 

She proposed the two ordinances to council and hopes council will take the time to educate themselves on the issue. 

“I still feel strongly that one day the circus will come to an end,” she said. “Otherwise (Kelly Miller Circus) would not have been here if they did not fear that.”

Some in the audience, like Willowick resident Bob Kirsch, said he thinks Willowick Mayor Rich Bonde, has not been taking the issue seriously.

“I want to see this issue pass, but I don’t think it’s going to,” Kirsch said. “I think we live in a really good city, but I think the city is not very progressive. I do have an issue with the mayor, and in my opinion it’s not going to pass because of him.”

Bonde said he has expressed his opinion on the matter, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t respect the work and the opinions of those who have come to the meeting. 

“My position has been clear from the beginning, we don’t see any abuse, and it’s up for the residents to decide,” he said. “Why should local government direct the lives of our families? If they object to the circus, then they should have the choice to not go to the circus. If enough people didn’t go to the circus, their wouldn’t be a circus. Obviously there are people who like the circus because about 1,300 of them attend every year. I’m not defending the circus, I’m defending the rights of the citizens and the ability for them to make the decision on their own.”