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Bill MA - Plymouth 2014 
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Detail Town Meeting members pass circus animal ban 
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Date 4/5/2014 
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From the Plymouth, MA Patch --

http://plymouth.wickedlocal.com/article/20140326/News/140327528/?tag=1

 

PLYMOUTH TOWN MEETING: Petitioned article aims to ban wild animal circuses

A petitioned article on the warrant of the spring Town Meeting seeks to ban circuses that display wild or exotic animals.

Posted Mar. 26, 2014 @ 4:00 pm

PLYMOUTH – Put yourself in their shoes or, rather, in their cages, Kati Carloni says.

Wild and exotic animals that are part of traveling circuses often spend 10 or 11 months a year living in trailers or boxcars, their movement limited further by chains, brought out once or twice a day for exercise or to perform tricks.

It’s easy to imagine what it would be like, Carloni says. Simply think of a prisoner doing life without parole.

Not surprisingly Carloni’s name is the one attached to an article placed – by petition – on the warrant of the April 5 spring Town Meeting – an article that, if passed, would ban traveling circuses that display wild or exotic animals from putting up their tents within the town’s boundaries.

She admits that this is a personal issue, that she has always been opposed to circuses displaying these creatures. But Carloni is adamant that this is an issue that deserves the support of the community, an issue whose time has come.

“In this country we have many laws that protect domesticated animals against abuse or neglect,” Carloni says, “but these beautiful wild animals are not protected.”

A big part of the problem, she explains, is the mobile nature of these circuses. Reports of abuse or neglect are forgotten or unenforceable because before authorities can act, the circus moves on to another town or state.

This is not just Carloni’s opinion. Her article has the support of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) and the South Shore Humane Society. And she refers those who are skeptical about the treatment of these animals to Animal Defenders International (ADI).

ADI’s website points out that similar regulations have been passed in dozens of communities around the country, and the world. Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Portugal and more than 20 other countries have instituted similar bans nationwide.

Two years ago, with ADI providing support and extensive documentation of the abuse of these animals, the “Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act” (TEAP) was introduced in Congress, and similar legislation has been brought forward in the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

Matt Rossell, campaigns manager for Animal Defenders International (ADI), which describes itself as an “animal rescue organization with a commitment to securing progressive animal protection legislation around the globe,” says that exotic animals are literally going crazy in the circus.

“It’s simply hard to argue in the 21st century, given all that we know about these animals’ complex needs, their intelligence,” Rossell says, “hard to argue that it’s acceptable to keep them in tiny cages, parking lots and trucks and trailers and train cars for most of their lives.”

 

Page 2 of 3 - Rossell also says there is now irrefutable evidence, much of it gathered by ADI, that wild animals in traveling circuses are treated inhumanely, suffer higher incidences of disease, die earlier, and actually go crazy because of their confinement and the manner in which they are treated.

ADI and other groups say that exotic animals often spend more than 10 months of the year traveling with these circuses, during which they spend more than 90 percent of the time chained in small confined areas.

“When you look at these animals from a behavioral perspective, you see certain stereotypic behaviors, such as bobbing of the head, swaying back and forth, pacing by the large cats,” Rossell says, “behaviors that are the result of their confinement.”

Because of recent violations of the Animal Welfare Act, Cole Bros. – the circus that has been setting up its tents at the Plymouth airport for several years – is not permitted to own exotic and wild animals. So, how do they continue to make tigers and elephants a feature of the circus? They contract out with other organizations.

If you’re suspicious of animal right’s groups, who are often accused of overzealousness, consider the opinion of local veterinarian Norm Stillman, owner of Court Street Animal Hospital.

“I agree that exotic animals don’t have a good life on the road,” Stillman says. “It’s hard on them, they are more prone to diseases, don’t live as long.”

Stillman is particularly concerned for tigers, which he says are one of the most intelligent wild animals on the planet.

“The intelligence of tigers is legendary. I think they are much smarter than the average housecat, or dog for that matter. Books have been written about tigers’ cleverness,” Stillman says. “I think that for very smart animals it is especially stressful to be confined and on the road all the time.”

Stillman is also skeptical that there is any educational value to the display of wild animals in traveling circuses.

“Really, it’s just entertainment,” Stillman says, “and not even very good entertainment. I can’t think of any good reason to justify displaying wild exotic animals like that.”

Stillman doesn’t believe his attitude has anything to do with his professional background.

“I don’t think that I am any more sensitive to the plight of wild animals, or domesticated animals, than the average person.” Stillman says. “Yes, being a veterinarian I understand animal physiology and anatomy and disease better than the average person. But I think that when it comes to seeing aN exotic animal in chains and deciding whether there is a justification for that, I don’t believe I am any more or less qualified than any feeling person that sees that animal. I would not take my family, my children to a traveling circus that features wild or exotic animals.”

 

Page 3 of 3 - Like all of the articles on the warrant of the annual and special Town Meetings, Article 35 was reviewed by both the Board of Selectmen and the Advisory and Finance Committee.

The Board of Selectmen is not recommending Article 35.

The Advisory and Finance Committee will recommend passage, but the vote authorizing that passed by the slimmest of majorities, 7-6, with several committee members expressing the belief that those who object to the presence of wild animals should not be able to keep those who don’t object from attending.

Article 35 does address many other basic concerns of voters. It exempts legitimate educational and medical institutions, including veterinarians, from displaying these animals.

Article 35 does not affect domesticated animals, such as cats and dogs and the like. Dog and pony shows, horse rides, trained birds and the other entertainments that utilize domesticated animals would not be affected by this change in the town’s bylaws.

If passed, will it mean the circus will never stop in Plymouth again?

No, Rossell says. “Circuses are doing better than ever. But we’re talking about human circuses. Cirque Du Soleil and others.”

“Animal circuses are a vestige of time past, when people wanted to see bull baiting, dog fighting, cock fighting. I’d like to think that humans are not as base as they used to be, at least here,” Stillman says. “One hundred years ago a caged wild animal was a big thrill. I think most people now feel sympathy when they see these animals at the circus, not excitement.”

 

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