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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 30, 2023 09:36 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Melissa L. Shusterman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Banning Traveling Animal Acts in Pennsylvania |
| After traveling for hours in a cramped truck, a bear is prodded into another ring in another town. A reluctant young elephant, frightened by the attention and yelling, has her skin torn by a metal hook while she is “trained” to perform. Increasingly, caring Pennsylvanians have become aware of the inhumane treatment, confinement, and transport of animals in traveling circuses. While the larger acts have largely voluntarily closed down due to lack of demand and competition from cruelty-free entertainment such as Cirque De Soleil, small operations with even less oversight still haul neglected animals from state to state. This legislation would prevent the transport of elephants, big cats, bears, primates, kangaroos, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, zebras, tapirs, seals, sea lions, and sharks for public performances. However, this legislation would not prevent zoos from exhibiting animals at their facilities, nor would it prevent nonprofits, educators, or wildlife rehabilitators from traveling for educational programs featuring birds, lizards, or other exempt species. Please join me in taking a stand against animal cruelty and ending the suffering of these beautiful creatures within our state’s borders. |
Introduced as HB1114