FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Kiley Blackman  
[email protected]
www.adow.org   

Westchester, NY FEBRUARY 19, 2005 Members of Animal Defenders of Westchester will join outside Westchester County Center on Feb. 19, from 12:30 - 2:30 pm, to protest the presence of the ‘Royal’ Hanneford Circus.

ADOW has already begun meeting with the Westchester County Board of Legislators, with the aim of creating a ‘No traveling animal acts’   on County property Ordinance.   The ‘Royal’ Hanneford circus has worn out their welcome: between trying to sneak tuberculin elephants past inspectors, plus their refusal to allow access to Channel 12 cameras, this circus as all circuses that still use animal acts, has shown itself to be unconcerned with public safety and the fact- finding process.  

Kiley Blackman, organizer of this event, said “The Hanneford circus is over; in one or two years tops, they will be gone from Westchester County.  These antiquated, cruel acts are being stopped all over the world.  In addition, Westchester County has been served with a Notice of Dangerous Condition regarding traveling animal acts.  Lawsuits resulting from circus problems could raise property taxes.  Last year a loose Clyde Beatty tiger caused a five-car collision, and a Shrine Circus elephant just killed her trainer in Indiana.

There were 65 such incidents from 1990 to 2003;  is it worth jeopardizing your property taxes  for an hour of supposed ‘fun’?