Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 11, 2010 12:00 PM
The circus could still roll into town, but the elephants and lions may have to stay home. Vernon council will consider a bylaw Monday that proposes a ban on exotic animals in the community, including during travelling circus shows. “Lots of communities have done this and there have been demands from people to do this,” said Clint Kanester, bylaw enforcement officer, who will make the presentation to council. The proposed bylaw doesn’t come as a surprise to Coun. Buffy Baumbrough. “We have received a large number of letters from the public on that issue and they’ve been asking for a bylaw restricting circuses with exotic animals,” she said. During a circus at Wesbild Centre in August, some residents gathered outside to protest animals being used in live acts. “Personally, I’d be willing to support a bylaw not allowing animals in circuses. The use of exotic animals can be stressful and difficult on them and there can be successful circuses without exotic animals,” said Baumbrough.
Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe, however, has some reservations about what staff is putting forward. “Basically we’re saying we don’t want circuses,” she said. “On the one hand, you don’t want to be cruel to animals but you’d also be sad to see them go.” O’Keefe believes there is an educational component to the circus as they introduce the public to animals they wouldn’t normally encounter. “Sometimes they serve a good purpose. How many people in Canada go to Africa?” she said. Mayor Wayne Lippert remains undecided on animals being used for circus acts. “The issue comes up whenever the circus comes around and it doesn’t hurt to take a look at the rules they must follow when it comes to handling animals,” he said.
Besides circuses, the proposed bylaw would prohibit residents and businesses from keeping exotic animals, such as primates, non-domestic cats and dogs, bears, elephants, venomous or poisonous reptiles and amphibians, all reptiles and amphibians more than two-feet adult size, mongooses, saltwater fish and tarantulas. “Most of that stuff is already prohibited under provincial legislation,” said Kanester, adding the bylaw would give local authorities the ability to deal with complaints. Existing owners of such animals would not have to get rid of them if the bylaw comes into force. “If they have an animal on the list, it’s grandfathered,” said Kanester.
5 comments:
What a riduculus proposal. Are we too become like Vancouver under Mikey Harcourt, who declared the City of Vancouver, a Turtle Free Zone?
Since when did the Bylaw ERT troops decide what Vernon should or should not do? Are the Animals running the farm instead of the Council?
Kids seldom get to see these animals and the animals are likely taken better care of than some of the Single parent families in Vernon.
another example of how this council listens to the wining of a very small, but vocal group than is looking for something else to ban. Why stop there, maybe we should ban dairy farms, those poor cows look so sad all hooked up to those milking machines..... This kind of stuff makes it worse for their agenda because it will not allow kids to see what these animals really look like and learn to appreciate them etc.
Ah well just another day another ban here in lovely Vernon.....
What a bunch of morons-when will City Hall and council look at existing bylaws that they don't enforce and when will they concern themselves with excessive taxation and the plight of its citizens.
When councilors run out of important things to consider, they should be given a six month leave of absence with a cut in pay!
Isn't this type of thing more of a federal decision anyway? WHY is the local council bothering with it? And if so many people in Vernon want the circus to go, why is it still doing so well, we took our family there and there were a ton of people.....and on the way in we passed TWO PROTESTORS... ya definatly a joke thats for sure, but then look at the councillor that was in agreement with it, she already has an agenda of her own with things in this city and doesnt represent the interests of the majority anyway....
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