http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/12/13/Pittsburgh-City-Council-animal-training-legislation-Bruce-Kraus-whips-prod-muzzles/stories/201712130169

 
Pittsburgh council eyes banning whips, muzzles for wild animals
December 13, 2017 3:26 PM
By Adam Smeltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wielding an electric prod, whip or elephant hook on any wild animal could soon be illegal in Pittsburgh.
City Council President Bruce Kraus offered a ban Wednesday on those practices, a restriction that would extend to exotic animals. The proposal replaces a broader bill that Mr. Kraus floated in 2016, when he sought to halt performances of wild and exotic animals for public entertainment.
His earlier legislation turned controversial, drawing nearly 60 speakers — including literal clowns — to a public hearing. Opponents worried the plan would effectively keep the circus out of town.
In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Kraus said he didn’t have enough council votes to pass that bill. But he expects robust support for his latest, more narrow effort. He said policymakers in California, Florida, Virginia and Oregon have passed similar measures.
“The purpose is really to raise the awareness of the public at large that there is a completely different conversation taking place over how we breed, cage, train and transport animals for our entertainment value,” Mr. Kraus said. He called himself a longtime advocate for the humane treatment of animals.
He said the city law department vetted the new proposal. Specifically, the document would ban the use of a bullhook, electric prod, shocking device, hacksaw, ankus, ankusha, elephant goad, elephant hook, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, whip, stick, muzzle or any other pain-inflicting instrument to train or control wild and exotic animals. The penalty for each offense could be as much as $1,000 and/or as many as 30 days in jail.
Council advanced the proposal for a likely vote on Tuesday. It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday how the legislation may affect circus or circus-like shows, although Mr. Kraus said he did not intend to keep them from Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium hopes council will take more time with the matter, zoo spokeswoman Tracy Gray said.
“Our initial reaction is that we would like to see council postpone any further action on this bill, as we had only received documentation on Wednesday,” Ms. Gray said in a statement. “Having had limited time to review the document, we have preliminary questions and areas of concern we would like to discuss further with the council.”
Adam Smeltz: 412-263-2625, asmeltz@post-gazette.com, @asmeltz.