ASSOCIATION CIRCUS MEMBERS
Animals in Circuses and Exhibitions: Legislative Update by Vanessa Gagne, Government Relations and Communications Consultant T
the season is in full swing and usually
by this time in the summer, many states have ended their legislative sessions. Because we are try- ing to do two things at once, recover economically from the pandemic and withstand crippling inflation, most states are preoccupied with maintaining stability. Despite this, animal rights activists and their millions of donation dollars were still able to influence representatives to push their agenda.
Every year the same bill is reintroduced in Connecticut to end the use of exotic animals in performances. The past couple years the bill language has contained the same verbiage as the federal Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA). This also bans animals like sting- rays and penguins.
This year the bill sat stagnantly for most of the session. It barely progressed through the House, but then gained trac- tion at the end and went on to the Senate, seemingly out of nowhere. This is the bill that would directly, and negatively, affect The Commerfords and their animal business. In fact, once the final push from animal groups revived the bill, a scathing op ed article was published in a popular online paper. The author was none other than one of the HSUS state direc- tors for Connecticut, Annie Hornish. She also happens to be the owner of a dog that mauled a 95 year old woman to death back in 2019. Luckily, the bill died in committee in the Senate, thanks to some hard work behind the scenes. Now that the ARs in CT know it could get that far, definitely look for it to be rein- troduced yet again next year. This is our time to fortify our message and let legislators know the truth about animals in human care and the HSUS donation scheme.
Happy 4th!
See you down the road, Vanessa
JULY 2022 | OABA ShowTime Magazine 29 2022Circus Fund
Robert E. Handley..................................$75 TOTAL $75
To contribute to the Circus Fund, make your check payable and send to: OABA Circus Fund, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA 01089
It is important that we maintain this fund so we are able to hire professionals to assist with challenges such as legislation that threatens our members’ businesses. Please consider and make your contributions to this very important resource pool. Feel free to be creative such as matching dollars, innovative fundraisers, endowments and memorials, to name a few. Another option is to designate a percentage or daily amount of your ride operation to be set aside for this important fund.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
