Chicago City Aldermen to look at Elephant abuse

Originally posted: April 8, 2008
Posted and reporting by Jack Nugent at 9:20pm

For almost four hours today, a City Council committee heard testimony and debated an ordinance regarding the use of bull-hooks and long term chaining of circus elephants within the city limits of Chicago.

The ordinance would ban the use of a broad range of devices, such as bull hooks, ax handles, and electric shock, within city limits. The ordinance is currently backed by 25,000 signatures from Chicago City residents and introduced by Alderman Mary Anne Smith.

Smith defined the ordinance as "A legislative tool that will not prohibit (circus) business but will set the highest standards and best practices for a city that signs off on permits. The ordinance’s intent is to modernize the industry and allow for process improvement rather than rely on 100 year old tools that are outdated. It’s a matter of pain and suffering as well as ethics."

Proponents argued that children learn to act violently when they witness cruelty against animals. Animal Welfare advocates suggested alternative animal control measures such as Protected Contact guidelines which are currently in use at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and The Lincoln Park Zoo.

Aldermen heard testimony from retired police officer Blaine Doyle who had the unfortunate task of bringing down a raging elephant in 1992. The elephant was shot 47 times by Doyle and required 2 armor piercing rounds before it was killed. Doyle told the Aldermen that "Bull-hooks and chains are a facade of control".

Testimony was heard from former animal handlers, animal welfare workers, residents and Circus Industry spokesmen. Industry Spokesmen Tom Albert and Sarah Lashford presented the Industry argument stating that if this ordinance is passed Ringling Brothers and Feld Entertainment will not perform in Chicago.

Alderman Toni Preckwinkle questioned the Industry representatives asking if Ringling Brothers had ever performed without animals previously. Lashford responded that "Large cats, lions and tigers, were sometimes not used in shows". Ald. Preckwinkle and Smith rebuffed the Circus Industry’s statement to not do shows in Chicago stating that "economic threats are common threats heard in these chambers" and a common tactic used by Industries hoping to defeat progressive legislation.

In the end today’s meeting resulted in a call for reconvening this ordinance meeting with a discussion set for the third week of May. Ald. Smith strongly reprimanded the Circus Industry stating that new arguments were needed if they hoped to stop this legislation’s approval. Smith stated "The Industry must work with PETA on this issue. We can do better and this (bull-hook and chaining practice) is going to change. Zoos are changing and I see no reason, after today, why the circus industry can’t progress also."

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