An ordinance to ban the use of bull hooks was introduced in the Spokane City Council on Monday, March 7.  We have now learned that the City Council will be voting on the ordinance this Monday, March 14 at 6:00PM PST.  

If you have not done so already, please take a moment to contact the Mayor and each member of the Spokane 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 Washington state).   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 elephant ban. 

True animal experts know that a safe and secure environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training any animal, including elephants.  The elephant guide, sometimes called a bull hook or ankus, has been used by elephant handlers for thousands of years.  The elephant guide is a widely accepted and humane elephant management tool that is absolutely necessary for people to safely work or interact with elephants in a public setting, whether it is at fairs, circuses, zoos, film and television productions, or any other setting.

Further, the guide is a proven and humane husbandry tool accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which regulates all zoos and circuses, and is approved by the International Elephant Foundation, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Elephant Managers Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association.   There are numerous organizations who have opposed legislation to ban elephant guides, including:

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Elephant Managers Association

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

International Elephant Foundation

Zoological Association of America

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

American Veterinary Medical Association

Circus Fans of America

Outdoor Amusement Business Association

Thank you for your timely attention and for contacting the Spokane City Council to oppose this measure!

Spokane, WA City Council:

City Council Office

City Hall, 7th floor

808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Spokane, WA 99201

509.625.6255

Council Members:

Ben Stuckart (City Council President)                                      bstuckart@spokanecity.org

Amber Waldref                                                                                 awaldref@spokanecity.org

Mike Fagan                                                                                         mfagan@spokanecity.org

Breean Beggs                                                                                    bbeggs@spokanecity.org

Lori Kinnear                                                                                        lkinnear@spokanecity.org

Candace Mumm                                                                               cmumm@spokanecity.org

Karen Stratton                                                                                  kstratton@spokanecity.org

Mayor:

Mayor David A. Condon

Spokane City Hall

808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Spokane, WA 99201

509.625.6250

mayor@spokanecity.org

Sample talking points:

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

·         Politely tell the Spokane City Council members that you are OPPOSED to any measure that would prevent elephant handlers from using this widely accepted and humane elephant management tool.

·         True animal experts know that a safe and secure environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training any animal, including elephants.  The elephant guide, sometimes called a bull hook or ankus, has been used by elephant handlers for thousands of years.  Elephant handlers in zoos, nature preserves and circuses throughout the world use the guide as an extension of the trainer’s arm along with a voice command.

·         The elephant guide is also approved by veterinary and zoological organizations because it enhances the ability of veterinarians and keepers to care for their elephants.

·         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 elephant exhibitions.

·         All circuses are required to have a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor’s license.  USDA conducts regular unannounced inspections of all performing animals and their stable areas, and their inspection reports are a matter of public record.

·         Circuses and other animal exhibitors are also subject to state and local animal cruelty laws and permit requirements in the local cities they visit Spokane and the state of Washington.  Such regulations provide protection to all performing animals and allow for the prosecution of those who neglect or mistreat the animals in their care.