Posted 8/11/2004 6:22:11 PM by Webmaster
News from CFA Member viewed 786 times
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - Denver, CO
Denver voters rejected Inititiative 100 to ban Circus animals by a 2 to 1 margin.
Following is a press release from Ringling Bros.
For Immediate Release
August 10, 2004
Denver Gives Vote of Confidence in Ringling Bros. and Its Animal Stewardship
Voters overwhelmingly defeat Initiative 100 - the Denver Circus Ban
Vienna, VA (August 10, 2004) - Today Denver voters resoundingly defeated Initiative 100, the proposed Denver "circus ban." Over 71 percent of Denver voters said "yes" to ensuring that generations of Denver families will continue to experience the spectacle of the circus and the joy and wonder of our animal family.
"Today is a victory not only for the tradition of the American circus, but for Denver families who have shared in the Ringling Bros. experience for 85 years," said Kenneth Feld, owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®. "When presented with honest and accurate facts, Denver voters decided to preserve their own entertainment choices while recognizing Ringling Bros.' enduring commitment to animal care and stewardship."
Initiative 100 - which would have solely banned circuses that include animal acts - was put on the primary ballot after animal activist organizations collected the required 6,000 signatures.
"Ringling Bros. believes the Denver vote sends a strong message that Americans reject the activists' agenda that would separate animals from their human caregivers and dictate how people spend time with their families," said Tom Albert, Vice President of Government Relations at Feld Entertainment, parent company of Ringling Bros. "It's because of the strong support and hard work of Denver citizens, the City Council, the Keep the Circus in Denver Committee and countless volunteers that the circus ban was defeated."
Ringling Bros. continues to work with federal, state and local officials to ensure our standards of animal care not only meet, but surpass animal care laws and regulations. As a progressive leader in animal stewardship, Ringling Bros. is continuously reviewing and modifying our animal care practices to ensure our animals' safety and well-being.
As part of the Ringling Bros. circus experience, our Animal Open House invites our guests behind the scenes to observe the exceptional care our animal family receives everyday. In attending Ringling Bros., our guests in Denver and throughout the United States also help support our continued commitment to Asian elephant conservation, breeding and education. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC) continues to be a world leader in breeding the endangered Asian elephant - with 16 successful births at the CEC in just 11 years.
"Ringling Bros. is extremely proud of our long history of bringing The Greatest Show on Earth to the city of Denver, and we look forward to bringing Ringling Bros. to Denver this October and for many years to come," said
Feld.
Contact: Shannon Pak
www.ringling.com
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