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Expanded Details 
Location North Carolina 
Bill Winston-Salem, NC 2016 
Detail Cat   Action-Expired 
Detail Possible ban on wild or exotic animals in traveling shows/circuses in Winston-Salem, NC 
Attachment   
Date 9/21/2016 
Body

The Winston-Salem, NC  City Council is discussing a possible ban on the use of exotic or wild animals in traveling shows or circuses.  Council members are seeking public comments on the issue and will then decide which course of action they may take.  The City Council’s Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet on October 10, 2016. The Committee will consider the following options:

1.       1. The city could consider a ban on wild animals in circuses;

2.       2. The city could consider a ban on all animal acts;

3.       3. The city could put new rules in place regulating animal acts; or

4.       4. Let the matter rest and take no action (any animal acts visiting the city would be governed by state and county regulations).

Please take a moment to contact the Winston-Salem City Council to let the members know why they should not support a ban on wild or exotic animals in traveling shows or circuses.  Please send all correspondence to the attention Council Member James Taylor, Jr., Chairman of the Public Safety Committee.

Email addresses for Chairman Taylor and the other members of City Council:  jamestjr@cityofws.org, vivianb@cityofws.org; denisea@cityofws.org; danbesse@danbesse.org; robertc@cityofws.org; mollyl@cityofws.org; jeffm@cityofws.org; derwinm@cityofws.org

 

City Council FAX number: (336) 727-2880

Mailing address:  City of Winston-Salem, 101 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

City Hall main phone number: (336) 727-8000 (ask for City Council office)

 

If we learn any additional information before the October 10 Public Safety Committee meeting, we will let you know.  Thank you for your help!

 

Sample Talking Points

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

·         Politely tell the City Council members that you are OPPOSED to any measure that would ban the use of wild or exotic animals in traveling shows and circuses.

·         Responsible animal owners and exhibitors support reasonable and effective regulations to protect the welfare of ALL animals, and have dedicated themselves to a vocation that puts the animals’ needs first and foremost.

·         There are federal regulations (enforced by USDA) that specifically outline public safety requirements for the display of circus animals.  Federal animal exhibitor licenses are required by all animal attractions or exhibits that are open to the public, with unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the federal Animal Welfare Act.

·         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 performing animal acts and other animal exhibitions.

·         Activist groups are pursuing exotic animal bans on a city-by-city basis across the country in an ideological effort to shut down all animal exhibitions.  If they succeed, local residents will lose the opportunity to view such animals and enjoy the family-friendly entertainment that circuses provide.

 

 

 
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