Animal Protection Amendment Narrowly Defeated, Regulations Moving Forward

On Friday, Sept 21st, 2007, the City Council of Minneapolis voted 7-6 against the Animal Protection Amendment, and in favor of increasing circus regulations.

We would like to thank each and every one of you who wrote, called, leafleted, and tabled in support of prohibiting wild animal circuses in Minneapolis. We are disappointed our amendment didn’t prevail, but the positive result is that the City Council is unanimous in its agreement that the current conditions for animals in the circus are unacceptable, and that the City can and should take a role in improving them. We are optimistic that we can continue to work with the City Council to craft meaningful regulations that will make a REAL difference in the lives of circus animals. And though it may be tempting to be discouraged, we do think it is a GOOD day when a lead Shriner says on TV that he is happy that the City will be imposing stricter, tougher, more expensive regulations on the way the animals in their circus are treated. Isn’t that a first!