ORD-2001-016 Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting the Display of Wild and Exotic Animals within Orange County

Browse Search

Sitha Bigger with the Triangle Metro Zoo urged the committee to oppose the ordinance. Their zoo provides education and entertainment to the children in the Triangle. She asked that the County Commissioners come and visit their zoo and watch the children interact with the animals before making a sweeping condemnation of businesses like ,hers to meet a political agenda of others. She distributed some brochures. Larry Seibel, owner of the Triangle Metro Zoo, said that he is 46 years old and has had animals his entire life. He said that he has never used force to train animals but only rewards after repetition. He said that they do have some mobile zoos with baby zebras, baby camels, and kangaroos for people to enjoy. He has been involved with animals since 1982 as a professional without incident. They have bears, tigers, zebra;s, . giraffes, and many others. He is not sure if we are looking at the safety of people or the ethical treatment of animals. He said that there are responsible people out there that have and love animals. He is very much opposed to this ordinance. Melissa Lozoff spoke in support of the ordinance. She has actually seen cruelty to animals. She said that she has seen a lot of evidence that sites Ringling Brothers many times but nothing ever comes of it. This evidence is from the USDA. She said that persistent violations are never prosecuted. She is against abuse and cruelty to animals but she is not against circuses. David Aman strongly supports the ordinance because of the misinformation that is sent about the animals that are displayed and about their place in the environment. He said that public display of wild and exotic animals contradicts sound environmental education and sends very distorted messages to students by casting these animals in a very artificial way.. Joshua Lozoff said that it is not surprising that we have citizens who have an interest in taking a stand and speaking against the cruelty and abuse of animals' because Orange County has an impressive combination of traditional and progressive thinking. He strongly supports this ordinance. Lisa Robinson Bailey, a member of the Committee for Human and Animal Safety, said that she has personally seen animals abused in the area. She has videotaped these kinds of abuses. She spoke about the types of abuses. She said that the statement that elephants are trained using sugar cubes and marshmallows insults the intelligence of everyone. She said that abuse of elephants for training was standard practice in circuses. She distributed a list of communities that had similar ordinances. Carrie Monet, resident of Orange County since 1978, said that she has read some of the information from the Humane Society of the United States, which is one of the most mainstream, moderate, non- militant animal welfare groups in the U. S. She said that she trusts this organization and she believes that they are the foremost experts on issues of animal welfare in the U. S. She urged the County Commissioners to pass this ordinance_ Casey Martin spoke in support of the ordinance. She has lived in Carrboro for ten years. She has worked with animals for the past eight years. She said that animals in confined conditions do not do well over time. She said that animals could not be caged' without becoming cage crazy. This is not only about animal welfare but human safety. She is in graduate school and is conducting a study on how people think and learn about animals. She has interviewed students and some of the comments that students have made about the animals in these industries are that the animals looked bored. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to postpone the decision of this item to a future Board of County Commissioners meeting in June or August. VOTE: UNANIMOUS