Performing animals
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 1994:
California governor Pete Wilson on August 29 signed a bill banning the inten-
tional tripping of horses in entertainment, a standard feature of charreada rodeo.
“Tripping and roping a horse is no different than what is done to steers and calves in Anglo
rodeos,” objected Los Angeles assemblyman Richard Polanco. “I agree,” responded Eric
Mills of Action for Animals. “Perhaps he would carry a bill to outlaw calf roping next year?”
Iams Co., the second-biggest sponsor of the 1,100-mile Iditarod dog sled race,
announced on September 13 that it will discontinue involvement after the 1995 race because
the organizers have not addressed their concerns about dog safety during the event.
Thailand on August 29 formed a working group to fight cruelty to animals at
tourist attractions. Included are representatives of the Royal Forestry Department, the
Tourist Police, the Tourism Authority, and conservation groups.
A tiger leaped from a circus ring into the front row of seats and killed a six-year-
old boy on September 3 in Chakradharpur, India. The boy’s father was also injured.
Coquitlam and Langley, British Columbia, are moving to ban exotic animal
acts, “a move which will effectively shut out circuses from the largest populated area in
Canada west of the Rockies,” according to Debra Probert of the Vancouver Humane Society.
Similar laws are already in effect in nine other British Columbia communities, including
Vancouver and Victoria. Coquitlam and Langley decided to go along after a tiger was burned
by a flaming hoop during an August 3 performance of the Circus Gatti––just after a
Vancouver Humane-led protest of alleged circus cruelty drew heavy media coverage.
