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Fairgrounds wont ban wild animal acts

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:06:14 -0700

Tri-Valley Herald by Email <afa

ldshelton, info, info,

asarescue, avar, berman,

vhandley, mmarkarian, wpacelle,

animalplc, hennet2, hfa, ida,

elephus, info, susan, karen,

afa

 

 

 

This article was emailed to you at the request of : *eric mills* -

afa <afa

The sender included the following brief message : /Maybe this'll help

light a fire under the Fair Board and the County Board of Supervisors.

Some letters of encouragement would be helpful: Alameda County Board of

Supes: tel. 510/272-6692; fax 271-5115 Alameda County Fair Board: tel.

925/426-7501; fax 426-7699 Some Letters to the Editor would help, too.

Send me copies of anything your write, please. Holler with any

questions. And thanks for the help. Eric Mills, coordinator ACTION FOR

ANIMALS/

View this article

<http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86%257E10671%257E1919731,00.html>

View Tri-Valley Herald <http://www.trivalleyherald.com>

 

*Fairgrounds won't ban wild animal acts

<http://www.trivalleyherald.com/Stories/0,1413,86%257E10671%257E1919731,00.html>\

*

 

*By Matt Carter, STAFF WRITER*

*Wednesday, January 28, 2004* - PLEASANTON -- It's been nearly two years

since tigers and bears performed at the Alameda County Fair. Ever since

then, animal welfare activist Eric Mills has been working to see that it

never happens again.

 

After the 2002 fair, Mills' Oakland-based group, Action for Animals,

organized a letter-writing campaign with the goal of banning wild animal

acts at the fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

 

Mills mustered the support of more than a dozen animal welfare groups,

including the East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,

and three state legislators. Some questioned the ethics of making wild

animals perform as entertainment and expressed worries that fairgoers

might be endangered should an animal escape its handlers.

 

>From the beginning, Alameda County Fair officials have maintained that

the performances were safe and humane, and that all animals at the fair

-- wild and domestic -- are treated well. Although they have consulted

with experts and reviewed animal welfare policies, the fair's board of

directors has not adopted a policy banning animal acts.

 

Last year, the fair featured performing seals, but this summer's lineup

will not feature any wild animals.

 

Mills says his first preference is for the fair board to address the

issue. But he also has been lobbying the Alameda County Board of

Supervisors to pass an ordinance banning the use and display of exotic

animals.

 

The board has yet to agree to even debate the matter. But Mills says he

has not given up hope that an ordinance banning wild animals at the fair

will be drafted and approved. Last summer, a committee of board members

that reviews new legislation was scheduled to discuss the issue. Mills

said he had arranged for groups to testify in favor of an ordinance, but

the item was pulled from the committee's agenda.

 

Now, county officials say they plan to schedule a meeting of a committee

that is better suited to discuss the issue -- the Board of Supervisors'

fair liaison committee.

 

" It's something as opposed to nothing, " Mills said. " I wanted the full

board to consider this, not some subcommittee. I want a public hearing

-- let the people vote on this (by) putting pressure on the supervisors. "

 

The fair's chief executive officer, Rick Pickering, says a prohibition

on wild animals such as tigers and bears could be a " slippery slope, "

opening the door to a wider ban on popular attractions, such as pig and

mule races.

 

" I believe Mr. Mills, as a posture of compromise, would (limit) the

number of animals he wants banned, " Pickering said. " However, he does

not speak on behalf of all animal rights advocates. Our board has opted

not to go down the slippery slope, but to provide that the safest place

an animal can be is at the Alameda County Fair. "

 

Pickering said the Alameda County Fair Association, the nonprofit that

runs the fairgrounds under an agreement with the county, has consulted

with animal care experts to ensure that its policies on the care and

treatment of animals are sound. As a result of discussions with the

American Zoological Association and the National Association of State

Public Health Veterinarians, Pickering said the Fair Association is

considering ways it could better protect animals and public health.

 

One step might include a review of records to ensure that animals that

are in contact with people -- such as those featured in the petting zoo

-- are up to date on immunizations and rabies shots, Pickering said.

 

" It may seem like were digging our heels in on the issue. The reality is

we keep getting better, " Pickering said.

 

Mills called such steps " irrelevant " in addressing his concerns.

 

" They can do their pig races and their mule races, " Mills said. " I know

people like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) say, 'We

want to shut it all down.' That's not my goal. "