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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I have just been made aware of a rapidly approaching problem in Atlanta, GA. Next Wednesday, the Fulton County commissioners will vote on a ban to the guidelines in handling elephants. This would effectively ban the use of elephants in the circuses.
I understand that not many of us use elephants in our acts but I think it is important to let our voices to be heard on this. We already know of the trouble guys are starting to have in using other livestock in their performances. If they can ban elephants, I think it is a matter of time before the trickle down effect comes into play. Here is a copy of the email I received with the contact information and full story. To Circus Fans and Concerned Citizens all ... Unite to defeat the plan to end the Circus in Atlanta, GA! CALL TO ACTION - SAVE THE CIRCUS! In Fulton County (Atlanta, Georgia) Commissioner Robert Pitts has introduced a proposed ordinance to ban guides used in handling elephants. If passed, this would effectively become the first significant "ban on circuses" in the USA. Similar bans have found their way into law in obscure locales where animal rights activists quietly sneak their narrow point of view into place. We cannot allow this to occur in Fulton County! Nobody I know would stand idle and allow an animal to be abused. Abuse of animals occurs in Fulton County and across this great nation on the streets of our towns and cities - but NOT at the circus where animals are loved and well cared for. So why is this resolution in place? Since the verbiage regurgitates propaganda right out of the animal rights playbooks, we can only conclude that its sponsor, Commissioner Robb Pitts, was somehow influenced by animal rights extremists. A few days ago a vote was taken and the resolution deadlocked at 3 votes versus 3 votes with Robb Pitts abstaining. The resolution comes up again at a meeting to take place on Wednesday, November 3rd, beginning at 10:30 am (signups earlier), Fulton City Center, in Atlanta. Representatives and experts from the circus industry will be in attendance. So will representatives of the Circus Fans Association of America. BUT - there is only 30 minutes allotted to public opinion! We need your help! Send emails, letters, and make phone calls to all 7 commissioners. We'd like them to receive an unprecedented number of emails before they get to this meeting. Such efforts have turned around destructive legislation in similar situations. Here is how: Go to followthecircus.com and follow the directions to send your email to all seven commissioners. Contact information for the commissioners can also be found here at FultonCountyGA.gov. If you act early you may choose to write a letter to: Fulton County Board of Commissioners, 141 Pryor Street SW, 10th FL, Atlanta, GA 30303 or FAX your letter to: 404-730-8254 We won't tell you what to say. We don't think that's appropriate. But we'll make some suggestions to help you get started: Give a clear reasoning for your opposition to the resolution. Be brief -One page please. Make 2 or 3 points at most and back them up with facts. Get 4 or 5 friends to make another 2 or 3 points. Send this email today to 5 friends and ask them to do the same! In the "Subject" box of your email, type in the words: Please VOTE NO - Opposed the resolution to amend article VI of Chapter 34 - the resolution that would prohibit the elephant guide you call a bullhook. Or words very similar to this. This helps statehouse employees to sort opinion, and our stack will be the tallest! There is a difference between animal welfare and animal "rights." Don't let the extremists get away with destructive legislation aimed at the circus. What's next? A ban on birthday cake? (All that sugar!) Remember that these very same extremists garner millions in public donations by showing "the poor animals" on television. They profit while thousands of adoptable animals are destroyed. These same extremists would also take away your right to eat meat or go fishing! They ultimately seek to remove cats and dogs from your lives as well. Eliminating the circus and performing animals is but one part of their very large agenda. Don't let them get away with it! Act now (they must hear from us before November 3rd). We stand ready to help you write your letters ... phone and email below. SAVE THE CIRCUS! Gary C. Payne Eastern Vice President National Animal Welfare Committee Chairman Circus Fans Association of America ptgcp@aol.com 860-833-7925 Visit circusfans.org (Click on grassrootscircusfans link in the left sidebar) for more information. I know this is the day after the November Elections but please take time to respond to this proposed ban Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
From what I've read and discussed with friends on this subject, I think you and Mr. Payne may be overreacting just a smidge...respectfully.
This proposed ordinance is not a ban on elephants and it won't prohibit the use of elephants within the Fulton County area. The ordinance would make it illegal to train or punish elephants with bullhooks – training devices that resemble a large fireplace poker – or similar devices. The bullhooks or guides are commonly used to direct and train elephants. The Humane Society and other animal protection agencies have long considered the bullhook to be an inhumane tool. Personally, I've never liked the bullhook and would like to see it dropped in favor of more humane guides; but, as I don't work with elephants I defer to those who do. A retired animal trainer friend tells me that there are more humane training and guide methods available, but, when properly and humanely used, the bullhook is considered to be the most reliable and functional. Inhumanely used, it can cause considerable pain and serious injury to the elephants. Still, at the worst, if the law passes, trainers will merely use more socially acceptable methods when in Fulton County and revert back to the bullhook elsewhere. This hardly spells the end of the American Circus as we know it. In my opinion, Mr. Payne's call to arms is more than a bit over the top. Skip
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Thanks Skip, I appreciate the reality check from a professional.
I'm always a little leary of calls to "humane treatment." While I agree with the ethos, too often people confuse this with "human treatment", projecting human wants need and desires onto animals. I raise and have raised all sorts of animals. I love them and respect them for what they are. BUT I don't imagine their psychology is the same as mine or that they have the same reactions to the same stimuli. Every animal species is behaviorally unique and proper treatment means understanding that behavior and acting accordingly. You need to be able to think like them, because they *don't* think like you.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Just another example of an overzealous politician wanting to play to his sponsors and punish everyone for the failures of a select few. Every circus I've ever traveled with has used bullhooks and the only time I ever saw one used with any real force, the errant handler was severely reprimanded by the stock boss.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Thank you Skip. I agree with your assessment of the use of bullhooks. Anything in the hands of an idiot is wrong but you cannot legislate intelligence.
I used to show Black Angus cattle and we use a show stick to set their feet or get their back down a little for the jump. You never punished an animal with it there was always some dummy who thought it was to beat on the animal with. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
mysterious JO New user 55 Posts |
Animals respond soo well to love and rewards and trust that is built up between human and animal! anyone who abuses an animal in my book is one to avoid! and with all the animal stuff going on suffolk county has just passed a ANIMAL abuse registry I have mixed feelings on that one! the old saying is educate yourself to the max before leaping into anything stupid that may get you into trouble! and here is the INFO on the suffolk county!
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20019761-504083.html http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=11880779 |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Last year, Ohio passed an animal welfare board in an effort to head off the animal rights nuts. It was designed to have vets, farmers, animals rights people, and college agriculture people, make reasonable care guidelines to let people continue to farm and do 4-H projects and such. So far, it seems to be working ok.
Abuse of animals, like people, unfortunately will always be there. Reasonable guidelines should help to control some of these problems. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Fábio DeRose Inner circle San Paolo, Brasile 1477 Posts |
Here in Brazil some states have successfuly prohibited the use of ANY sort of animal in Circus Shows, Theatrical Productions and so on.
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-11-01 17:10, Fábio DeRose wrote: I think that's rather over-board. Here in the US many Zoos do bird shows and the like. Animals that are socialized for inter action with humans are generally happier with it then without it.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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