ACTION ALERT – Performing animal ban introduced in Pittsburgh, PA

**5/27/16 Update: a hearing was held on Tuesday, May 24.  A vote has not been scheduled yet.**

On Tuesday, May 3, City Council President Bruce Kraus introduced a proposed ordinance which would ban performances by any wild and exotic animals (including lions, tigers, camels and kangaroos).  Feld Entertainment, the Pittsburgh Shrine Circus, and local Circus Fans of America members are actively working to defeat this ordinance.  If no residents of Pittsburgh step forward to request a public hearing, the City Council may vote on the measure without public input.  Therefore, it is imperative that City Council members hear from supporters of performing and exhibition animals before they take any action on this ordinance.

Please take a moment to contact the Mayor and each member of the Pittsburgh City Council with a short e-mail stating you OPPOSE this ordinance, and encourage your friends and family to do the same (especially those who live in the Pittsburgh area).  Sample talking points for your correspondence are listed below, but please use your own words and your own experiences to politely express your opposition to this proposed ban.  Contact information for individual Council members is listed below, or you can visit the Council website at http://pittsburghpa.gov/council/ and click on the “Feedback” tab for each Council member.

Thank you for your timely attention and help in opposing this circus animal ban.  If you have any questions, or if you live in the Pittsburgh area and are interested in attending possible upcoming hearings, please contact Mary Lou Kelly at mkellys@feldinc.com. 

Pittsburgh, PA City Council main office:

Suite 510, Fifth Floor

414 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: (412) 255-2138, Fax: (412) 255-2821

Council Members:

District 1: Darlene Harris                                E-mail: Darlene.Harris@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2135

District 2: Theresa Kail-Smith                       E-mail: Theresa.Kail-Smith@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-8963

District 3: Bruce Kraus                                    E-mail: Bruce.Kraus@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2130

District 4: Natalia Rudiak                                E-mail: Natalia.Rudiak@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2131

District 5: Corey O’Connor                            E-mail: Corey.OConnor@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-8965

District 6: R. Daniel Lavelle                            E-mail: Daniel.Lavelle@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2134

District 7: Deborah Gross                              E-mail: Deborah.Gross@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2140

District 8: Daniel Gilman                                E-mail: Daniel.Gilman@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2133

District 9: Rev. Ricky Burgess                       E-mail: Ricky.Burgess@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Or reverend.burgess@pittsburghpa.gov

                                                                                Phone: 412-255-2137

Mayor:

The Honorable William Peduto

Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

Fifth Floor

414 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: 412-255-2626

Fax: 412-255-2687

Email: bill.peduto@pittsburghpa.gov

Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Kevin Acklin: kevin.acklin@pittsburghpa.gov

Sample Talking Points

The following are suggestions for your correspondence in Pittsburgh, but please use your own words, and you do not need to include every bullet point.  Please keep all correspondence to city officials respectful.

·         Politely tell the Pittsburgh City Council members that you are OPPOSED to the performing animal ban, as well as any measure that would prevent circuses and other exotic animal exhibitors from visiting Pittsburgh.

·         Circus animals and other performing animals are well cared for and generally are healthier and live longer than their counterparts in zoos.

·         True animal experts know that a safe and secure environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training and handling any animal, including exotic and performing animals.

·         If any animal is being mistreated in any environment, then the right answer is to enforce existing laws and regulations to punish bad actors, as opposed to punishing an entire industry and the public who enjoy exotic animal displays.

·         Proponents of performing animal bans mischaracterize or misunderstand the facts about the training and handling of performing animals. Most of the organizations that advocate such bans do so as part of a larger, animal rights agenda which opposes all or most human interaction with animals.