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Location Pennsylvania 
Bill Pittsburgh, PA 2016 
Detail Cat   Information 
Detail Pittsburgh Ordinance Would Ban Wild Animals in Performances 
Attachment   
Date 5/4/2016 
Body
Post-Gazette.com

Pittsburgh ordinance would ban wild animals in performances

Pittsburgh City Council is considering an ordinance that would ban the use of wild animals in performances, meaning the show may not go on here for Ringling Bros. and Barnum + Bailey and the Shrine Circus.

“A common question is, ‘Are we banning the circus?’ No one wants to ban wonderful memories of the circus — but we certainly do want to identify and eradicate what many see as mistreatment of animals in that process, whether it is the way they are cared for, trained, caged or transported,” council President Bruce Kraus said.

The ordinance he proposed Tuesday calls for “prohibiting the performance of wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement,” specifically in shows such as circuses and roadside displays.

It aims “to protect wild and exotic animals from cruel and inhumane treatment and to protect the public from danger posed by the use of wild and exotic animals for entertainment.”

Performing lions, tigers and bears would be prohibited, as would other animals including camels, elephants and monkeys.

Anteaters, crocodiles, emus, mongooses and sloths are on the list, too.

Educational, research, rehabilitative and some accredited programs would be exempt, such as the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, The National Aviary and the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center.

The ordinance, based on a similar San Francisco rule enacted about a year ago, could come up for discussion and a preliminary vote by council as soon as May 11. Final passage could follow six days later, and the mayor would have 10 days to sign it.

Mr. Kraus said Pittsburgh’s ordinance focuses on the “humane treatment of the animals” and would establish the city as a progressive leader.

After using pachyderms in its performances for more than 200 years, Ringling retired its elephants Sunday amid criticism from animal rights activists. Its herd of 40 Asian elephants will live at Ringling’s 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida.

Sea World also announced this year that it would end live orca shows and breeding.

“This is really talking about Pittsburgh taking a good, hard look at itself and seeing what it stands for, and I really hope it’s not animal cruelty. There is no humane way to operate a circus with animals,” said Brian Bonsteel, a Shadyside dentist who is president and founder of Humane Action Pittsburgh, which helped draft the legislation.

Other cities from Pasadena, Calif., to Missoula, Mont., to Burlington, Vt., have similar restrictions.

Representatives of both circuses said they couldn’t perform here if the ordinance passed and touted never having been cited in Pittsburgh. They too, they said, are concerned about animal welfare.

“If an ordinance like this passes, we will not be able to come to Pittsburgh. We will not leave the animals at the city limits,” said Stephen Payne, vice president for Ringling’s parent company, Feld Entertainment.

He called the ordinance “completely egregious and unnecessary,” pitting animal rights activists’ views of what happens against the circus’ actual practices. Ringling “only trains through positive reinforcement,” Mr. Payne said, adding that local, state and sometimes federal inspectors have visited Ringling’s shows here.

“What this proposed ordinance does is add a layer of regulation that is, one, not necessary, and two, makes decisions for people in Pittsburgh who should be able to decide for themselves” if they want to attend the circus, Mr. Payne said.

Paul Leavy, circus chairman with the Syria Shriners of Pittsburgh, said its early April shows, which featured elephants and tigers, drew a bigger crowd than last year.

“There is no reason why you would want to abuse one of these animals. They are like family to us,” he said.

The Shrine Circus, which has played in Pittsburgh for 67 years, acts as a fundraiser for the Syria Shrine hospitals across the continent.

“We bend over backward to make sure that everything is buttoned-up and taken care of to a T. We wouldn’t have it here for more than six decades if something would be going wrong,” Mr. Leavy said.

Those two troupes bring several shows to Consol annually for “tens of thousands” of spectators, said Gary Desjardins, general manager of Consol Energy Center. “From an event mix standpoint, it would be a big loss for us,” he said.

Ringling Bros. has shows scheduled at Consol from Nov. 2 through 6, but Mr. Kraus said the legislation doesn’t aim to disturb existing contracts.

“We always enjoy our time in Pittsburgh. The fans are very supportive, and Consol is a great arena,” Mr. Payne said.

The Associated Press contributed. Lexi Belculfine: lbelculfine@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1878. Twitter: @LexiBelc.

 
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