Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future I will re-introduce legislation to ban the display of animals in traveling exhibitions. As you may have heard, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced they will phase elephants out of their shows by 2018. While I applaud this announcement and encourage Ringling Bros. to immediately end the use of elephants in their shows, I am concerned about the animals that will remain “on the job.”

The circumstances of travel and performance make it impossible for the animals to be given the environment and facilities they require to maintain a healthy life. Mobile housing units are often cramped even to the point of being unhealthy. Animals are also denied social interactions, sufficient exercise, and proper nutrition. This bill would largely end the cruel practice of grueling travel and on-demand performance that many animals are subjected to for the sake of our entertainment.

Specifically, my legislation would ban the display, for profit, of any animal that traveled in a mobile housing facility in the 15 days preceding the display. It would provide exemptions for zoos, educational outreach programs, and research activities. I encourage you to join me in protecting animals from the abuses of traveling exhibitions.

If you have questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Director, Jon Tew, at jtew@pasenate.com or 610-768-4200.