Posted 11/18/2014 7:25:50 AM by Mort Gamble
News from editor viewed 904 times
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - News
Proposed ban on elephant guide tool would prevent the good people of Richmond from seeing the circus. Additional updates and revised action alert forthcoming.
The following update on yesterday's hearing in Richmond on the proposed bullhook ban is provided by Mary Lou of Feld Entertainment. An updated alert and information is forthcoming. In the meantime, let's continue to express our support for the circus. The Education and Human Services Committee of the Richmond,
VA City Council voted 2-1 in favor of passing Ordinance No. 2014-199. The
Committee recommended that the ordinance not be taken up by the full City
Council until at least January, to allow more time for input/discussion.
The first City Council meeting in January is the 12th, so it might
be on the agenda then.
The two members who voted in favor of the ordinance were
also the co-sponsors. Although the measure passed Committee, we had a
tremendous showing from our side – in fact, industry representatives and circus
supporters equaled, if not outnumbered, the amount of activists at the
hearing. In attendance were representatives from Feld Entertainment
Government Relations, veterinarians and elephant professionals from the
Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation, as well as representatives
from the Elephant Managers Association, the National Animal Interest Alliance,
the Circus Fans of America, and the American Kennel Club. We are very
grateful for the show of support and for everyone who took time out of their
schedules to attend the hearing. We also want to thank the many
individuals who contacted the Committee members with letters or emails.
It is important to keep our momentum going with outreach to
the full City Council as they continue to review this issue. We are
working on an updated alert for Richmond, with additional talking points to
reflect the questions brought up at last night’s hearing. The new alert
will be sent out to everyone soon. In the meantime, please forward this
update to your contacts, or any individuals I have inadvertently missed.
Thank you all, and we will keep everyone posted as further
information becomes available.
Best regards,
Mary Lou
Go to the Grassroots tab to the left of this home page for information and talking points. SEE the excellent article by Janice Aria on how this accepted animal-husbandry tool has been mischaracterized:
): http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/bullhook-has-been-mischaracterized/article_9a7b2dd8-767b-54d9-a783-146e3deca492.html Thank you!
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