Stop Circus Suffering

Update: June 19, 2017, the final vote has been scheduled! ADI’s General Counsel, Christina Scaringe and Gigi Glendinning, our Education and Outreach Manager will attend the NYC council meeting this Wednesday, June 21, 2017. NYC residents; please consider joining ADI (and bring a friend!) to this historic, not-to-be-missed event! And act today to make one last contact with your council member to shore up their support for this important vote.

Join us in NYC!

WHAT: NYC Council Meeting vote on Int. 1233, to prohibit traveling wild animal performances
WHEN: Wednesday, June 21, 2017, 1:30pm [Arrive by 1:00pm to get thru security]
WHERE: NY City Hall, 260 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
RSVP: email usa@ad-international.org

Posted June 15, 2017:
GREAT NEWS! The NYC Council Committee on Health voted to pass Int.1233-2016, the bill to ban traveling wild and exotic animal circus performances! Thanks to a strong push by local advocates, Int.1233 now has 37 cosponsors, a supermajority of the 51-members, and will soon be voted on by the full council!

ADI has been working with the sponsor, NYC council member Rosie Mendez, since early 2014; we also worked with Health Committee attorney David Seitzer on draft language. Hundreds of local citizens and groups have pulled together to secure support. Now we need your help to bring this important circus animal protection across the finish line. Securing a ban in the largest city in the US will go far to encourage other cities, states, and the US Congress to protect circus animals. We need you there!

NYC residents—take action!
New Yorkers, help pass INTRO 1233 in NYC, to join other world-class cities like Barcelona, Bogotá, Rio, San Francisco, Santiago, and Singapore, as well as 35 diverse nations across the world that have acted in this regard. The circuses are pushing back and have hired a lobbyist, so your calls and emails are needed to get this important bill across the finish line!

Find your council member’s contact information here

Intro 1233-2016 Sponsor: CM Rosie Mendez, RMendez@council.nyc.gov (212) 677-1077

Co-sponsors: Rosie Mendez, Corey D. Johnson, Annabel Palma, Fernando Cabrera , Daniel Dromm , Karen Koslowitz, Jumaane D. Williams, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Helen K. Rosenthal, Vanessa L. Gibson, Ritchie J. Torres, Andrew Cohen, Stephen T. Levin, James Vacca, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Donovan J. Richards, Antonio Reynoso, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Carlos Menchaca, Rafael L. Espinal, Jr., Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Margaret S. Chin, Brad S. Lander, Vincent J. Gentile, James G. Van Bramer, Mark Levine, Bill Perkins, Laurie A. Cumbo, Alan N. Maisel, Daniel R. Garodnick, Barry S. Grodenchik, Paul A. Vallone, Mark Treyger, Eric A. Ulrich, The Public Advocate (Ms. James), Darlene Mealy, Ruben Wills

If your council member is already on the above co-sponsor list, thank them. If not, urge them to support!

Here is a sample statement. Make sure to put into your own words:

“Dear Council member _________,

I am your constituent and [urge you to vote for/thank you for co-sponsoring] Int. 1233 to protect circus animals and NYC citizens.

Careful research and detailed undercover investigations have shown the welfare of animals is unacceptably compromised under the confinement and cruel training practices inherent to traveling circuses. Wild, stressed animals in close quarters with the public has proven to be a public safety hazard; escaped animals have maimed and even killed members of the public.

[Please make/Thanks for making] NYC a leader in animal protection, by supporting Int. 1233.

Sincerely,
_________”

The following councilmembers have not yet decided to support Int1233. If your councilmember is listed below, please make sure to follow up your email with a call to let them know it is important to you that they support Int. 1233 to protect circus animals and NYC citizens.

Inez Barron 212-788-6957
Joe Borreli 212-788-6989
Chaim Deutsch 212-788-7360
Andy King 212-788-6873
Steve Matteo 212-788-7159
I. Daneek Miller 212-788-7084
Deborah Rose 212-788-6972
Ruben Wills 212-788-6850

Outside NYC, contact ADI for help starting a local ordinance campaign to ban wild animal performances in your community at usa@ad-international.org

Find out how to support our federal bill here, the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, (HR 1759), to ban wild animals from being forced to perform in traveling shows throughout the US.

Studies on the use of wild animals in traveling acts show that circuses cannot meet the physical or behavioral needs of wild animals. Animals are confined in small spaces, deprived of physical and social needs, and spend excessive time shut in trailers and train cars. These animals often demonstrate abnormal behaviors – rocking, swaying, and pacing – indicating they are in distress and not coping with their environment. ADI’s video evidence shows how these animals are forced to perform tricks through physical violence, fear, and intimidation.

We can’t help animals without you!
https://www.ad-international.org/take_action/donate.php