(CA) Activists To Protest Wild Animal Circus in Livermore

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Activists To Protest Wild Animal Circus At Robertson Stadium

 

Thursday, April 29, 2004

The Independent (www.independentnews.com)

 

Letters to the Editor: editmail

 

Livermore, CA--Protesters will greet the Circus Gatti when it comes to Robertson

Rodeo Stadium May 5 for two

shows.

 

East Bay Animal Advocates has sent out a call for interested people to show up

one hour before the two shows,

which begin at 4:15 and 6:30 p.m. at the rodeo stadium. The protest will be in

the parking lot in front of the

stadium.

 

Livermore resident Mary Beth Binder is organizing the protest, as she did at an

appearance of the circus last

year, when about 600 people attended the two shows. The demonstration in 2003

led to the formation of the

animal advocates group.

 

Binder said there are a few Livermore members. The remainder are from various

East Bay cities. The group

focuses on trying to discourage wild animal acts in communities. Binder said

there are two concerns. One is for

the safety of the public. Since wild animals are not domestic, an elephant or

tiger could suddenly depart from

tame behavior and hurt someone, she said.

 

Also, wild animals are sometimes tamed in what Binder considers to be abusive

ways, she said. Binder referred

to web sites maintained by two animal rights groups that cited alleged

violations by Circus Gatti.

 

In March, 2002, the USDA cited Circus Gatti for failure to provide a USDA

official with access to animals,

records, and property for the purpose of conducting an animal welfare

inspection, said the API.

 

The most recent incident, listed on a web page of the Animal Protection

Institute (API), was May 2002. Citing a

Sacramento police report as its source, the web page says, that a tiger refused

to leave its cage after a

performance. It prompted evacuation of spectators from the arena, and drew

Sacramento police to the scene.

Eventually the animal was tranquilized.

 

A representative of Circus Gatti, which is based in southern California, was

unavailable for comment before the

Independent’s deadline.

 

Livermore Area Recreation and Park District operates Robertson Park Stadium.

LARPD staff members said that

Circus Gatti has all the proper permits for the appearance May 5. Since there is

no exception in its policy for

wild animal acts, LARPD must grant the permit.

 

Dale Turner, a member of the LARPD board of directors, said that the board is

aware of “the concerns of the one

protester. However, the Circus Gatti, to receive a permit, had to have current

licenses with Fish and Game on

file with the state, and must have a current health certificate. They’ve

accomplished all of that.” Turner said

that “we know her (Binder’s) concern is the inhuman treatment of circus animals,

but there is nothing to

document it.”

 

After last year’s protest, Binder appeared before the city council in October to

ask for an ordinance outlawing

wild animal acts in Livermore. No council member moved to have it put on the

agenda, although Binder later

returned to try the council to try to draw interested. Binder said the group has

given up on Livermore

politicians, and is discussing placing an initiative locally to ban wild animal

acts.

 

She said that a grassroots effort in Denver, led by a high school student,

qualified for the ballot. It will be

voted on in August.

 

For more information: www.eastbayanimaladvocates.org