The News-Herald (http://www.news-herald.com)

Circus welcome in Willowick, but not bullhooks used on elephants

By Amy Popik, The News-Herald

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The circus is still welcome in Willowick, but there will be restrictions as to the tools handlers are allowed to use to control the animals.

At the Feb. 3 regular meeting of Willowick City Council, members made two decisions related to the circus.

The first ordinance voted on was to ban anyone from bringing a circus or traveling show with wild or exotic animals into the city.

That ordinance failed 6-1, with Council President Bob Patton, Ward 1 Councilmen Mike Vanni and Rich Regovich, Ward 2 Councilwoman Ann Turk and Ward 3 Councilmen Charlie Malta and Bob Reho voting against the ordinance, and Ward 2 Councilman Tom Wells voting for it.

The second ordinance voted on was a ban on the use of bullhooks and similar devices on animals, and that ordinance passed 4-3, with Patton, Turk, Wells and Malta voting for the ordinance and Vanni, Regovich and Reho voting against.

Although the circus can still come to town, it is unclear if Kelly Miller Circus, which has been coming to Willowick for more than 10 years, will still come with the ban on bullhooks.

A representative from the circus was not present at the meeting.

There is a chance Mayor Rich Bonde could veto the second ordinance that was passed by council, in which the ordinance would go back to council and council could vote to override his veto. That vote would need five affirmatives to override.

When asked about the possibility of a veto, Bonde responded that he “will be giving it a lot of thought and consideration.”

“Speaking for myself, and the reason for my vote this evening is that I do not view this issue as liking or disliking the circus,” Patton said of the first ordinance to ban the circus. “I think this is an issue on animal cruelty... and that is pitted against living in a free society. When we do something that may have a prohibited effect, we should do it as narrowly as possible. I believe that we as a city council, overstep our authority by telling people what they can and cannot do.”

Vanni agreed with Patton during the discussion of the first ordinance, and said he has talked with the recreation director and safety forces, and there has not been an issue with the circus in the years it has stopped in the city.

“I have come to the conclusion that there are state laws and federal laws that regulate this,” he said. “No one wants to see animals treated badly. I feel confident in our safety forces and what others have told me and I just don’t think this is something that should be done at this level.”

Patton during the discussion of the second ordinance to ban bullhooks and similar devices said he could support this ordinance because it is more narrowly defined and addresses the issue of animal cruelty.

He added that when the representative from Kelly Miller Circus came to a previous meeting in January, he asked if the circus was obligated to use a bullhook and the representative said the law is that the circus is obligated to control the animals, so this would not indirectly prohibit the circus from coming to the city.

After the meeting, Malta said he believes the people have a right to choose whether to attend the circus.

“I just feel that we should not be making a law... as to how (people) spend their recreation money,” he said. “It should be up to them. The circus will end when the people don’t come.”

Melissa Shy, the Willowick resident who presented the ordinances to council, said she was glad that the bullhook ordinance was passed.

“I think they made an educated decision based on facts and not feelings,” she said. “I am disappointed that they didn’t feel it was in their jurisdiction to ban the wild animals in the circus, but we will see what will happen next.”

Shy brought Tim Harrison to the meeting. He is a retired police officer, firefighter, paramedic and the director of the nonprofit group Outreach for Animals.

The group advocates for public safety especially when exotic animals come to the city, and Harrison warned Willowick council members the dangers of having a circus in the city, especially when it comes to safety.

“I am worried the city doesn’t have an action plan, especially if or when these animals escape, so I hope to be able to work with them to develop a plan in the future,” he said.

This issue also attracted the attention of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“Thanks to Willowick City Council, elephants in Willowick will never again be threatened or struck with bullhooks — weapons resembling a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end that circuses use to beat elephants and force them to perform unnatural tricks,” said PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders in a statement to The News-Herald.

“Willowick joins Los Angeles, Oakland, and other cities across the U.S. and around the world in standing up for elephants, and PETA looks forward to seeing more cities follow Willowick’s compassionate and progressive example.”

© 2015 The News-Herald (http://www.news-herald.com)