Sep 21, 2007 5:13 pm US/Central
Regulations, But No Ban Of Circus Animals In Mpls.
by John Lauritsen
(WCCO)
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The Minneapolis Shrine Circus will be held October 5-7 at the Target Center. Friday's decision means there will not be any changes made to the circus this year. (File)
CBS
Circuses featuring wild animals will continue coming to the city of Minneapolis. Friday the city council voted seven to six to put more regulations on circuses rather than banning them from the city.
Council members in favor of a wild animal ban used examples of animal abuse to support their arguments. The circus reform group Circus Reform Yes, or CRY, also made a video available detailing various types of abuse taking place.
"We know that 28 other cities, including Albuquerque, New Mexico have already taken this step," said council member Ralph Remington.
But opponents said a wild animal ban is going too far. Council member Paul Ostrow offered an amendment that he said would regulate how animals are treated before they come to town and while they are here.
"These regulations significantly increase the amount of oversight by our animal control unit of circuses," said Ostrow.
In the end, Ostrow's amendment prevailed. It was a victory for circus supporters.
"We maintain that these animals are already well cared for. I have never seen anything personally since I'm down there every day for every performance. I almost sleep there during the Shrine Circus," said Timothy Davison of the Minneapolis Shrine Circus Committee.
Christine Coughlin of CRY said the regulations won't be enough.
"Elephants are chained one front foot and one back foot for 20 hours on the concrete floor at the Target Center. That's going to be happening in two weeks," said Coughlin.
The Minneapolis Shrine Circus will be held October 5-7 at the Target Center. Today's decision means there will not be any changes made to the circus this year. If the ban had been approved, Minneapolis would have become the second major U.S. city after Albuquerque to adopt such a ban.
The city council will now go back to committee to discuss increased regulations for the treatment of wild animals. The next committee meeting is scheduled for September 26.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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