Another city bans bullhooks
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

In Defense of Animals (IDA)
December 2012

One circus that had its sights set on Hallandale Beach, Cole Bros. Circus, performed in Winchester, Virginia, earlier this year without the use of animals in order to comply with a ban on exotic-animal exhibitions. Cole Bros. celebrated its humans-only show as “just as dazzling and just as amazing,” which reinforces the fact that circuses don't need to trot out abused animals to entertain audiences.

 Another city just took a bold step to keep circuses and other abusive acts out of their jurisdiction. The City Commission of Hallandale Beach, Florida voted Tuesday to ban bullhooks, bucking straps and other cruel devices used to train and dominate animals to perform tricks for entertainment. The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) spearheaded the ban, with support from IDA. Despite strong opposition including Ringling Bros. Circus, compassionate commission members voted 4 to 1 in favor of leveraging greater protection for elephants, tigers and other captive circus animals.

Circuses are running into more and more places where they can't force elephants and other exotic animals to perform, as localities ban the use of bullhooks—sharp metal weapons that resemble fireplace pokers—and other cruel devices. Trainers use them to beat, hook, and gouge elephants on the most sensitive parts of their bodies, like behind their ears and knees. In Florida alone, Pompano Beach, Clearwater, Hollywood, and Margate have already enacted bans, and now we can add Hallandale Beach to the list of dozens of compassionate communities across the country that are saying, “Not on our watch.”

The City Commission of Hallandale Beach, just north of Miami, voted to ban circuses and rodeos from using bullhooks, whips, and other cruel devices to beat animals. Since threatening elephants, tigers, and other animals by showing them a bullhook or whip is the only way that circus trainers can make them stand on their heads, jump through rings of fire, or perform other frightening, confusing tricks, circuses will have to leave exotic animals out of their acts if they want to entertain in Hallandale Beach.

One circus that had its sights set on Hallandale Beach, Cole Bros. Circus, performed in Winchester, Virginia, earlier this year without the use of animals in order to comply with a ban on exotic-animal exhibitions. Cole Bros. celebrated its humans-only show as “just as dazzling and just as amazing,” which reinforces the fact that circuses don't need to trot out abused animals to entertain audiences.

---

Return to Animal Rights Articles