Tuesday July 20, 2010 was a banner day for animal rights and protection. In Sacramento, California council passed an ordinance amendment to help protect animals that are used in traveling shows such as rodeo’s and circuses.
Now, any group traveling with this type of show animals will have to file for a permit and also allows animal control officers to do unannounced inspections of the animals and their care.
This is a great big step forward in making sure that animals in their city are not being abused for money. I am sure many of you have seen the video’s of Ringling Brothers Circus elephant handlers hitting the animals and also video of them tying the feet of baby elephants so the animal can not get up or to its mother. These video’s have enraged people across the US of A.
You can go over to Victory! Sacramento Passes Ordinance to Protect Performing Animals to read more details of the Amendment and how the group IDA (In Defense of Animals) played a vital role in helping the Council members understand how important it is to pay attention to the traveling animals while in their city. They also have a link to the actual hearing of the meeting that took place on July 20, 2010.
Now, we can hope that other cities will follow with similar types of protection for these animals that are used for entertainment that have no regular home. I would think traveling would be hard on the animals and it would be harder for any authority to keep track of the animals health and well being as they are always moving to the next city.
Personally, I do not attend any traveling show such as a circus or rodeo.
I am glad something is being done about the rodeo animals. 6 horses died in the Calagry Stampede (Canada’s yearly rodeo event) due to being overworked and/or put down due to injury! Its said the animals are very mistreated in rodeo’s!