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

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There are all kinds of exotic species and the ordinance needs to be clarified. He feels there is no risk and no imminent threat to the citizens of Orange County. As a resident of Orange County and one who has= been active in the exhibition of these animals, he asked that the ordinance be rejected. Ed Ellesson spoke in support of this ordinance. He said that since 1993 he has been involved with wildlife rehabilitation in North Carolina with a lot of hands-on interaction. He believes that animals feel pain and suffer and that when they are hurt or sick or afraid they have the same kinds of feelings that humans have in similar circumstances. He said that what the public sees in the circus performances does not reveal to them how the animals are trained. He said that you have to hurt and abuse wild animals to get them to do things. The circuses put chains on the animals and damage them with hooks. The only way to stop the abuse is to stop the performances. Vaughn Compton asked if any of these rules would affect the Efland Rodeo and it was answered that it would not. Dietrich Hawgwitz said that he has lived in this County for thirty years. He expressed his support for this ordinance. His reasons include the statistics about captive animals and the injuries to humans. He spoke about the endless use of abuses and how the animals are kept in tiny cages and have to endure extreme heat and cold. Another reason he opposes the performances is because the animals are isolated specimens and it is exactly the wrong kind of education for our young children. He said that we do not want to put anyone out of business. He said that the people who are opposed to this ordinance come from outside business interest. He said that there were a growing number of circuses without the exploitation of animals. Heidi Herriott, Circus Unit Manager for the Outdoor Amusement Business Association and a third generation of a family of American animal trainers, said that they were opposed to this ordinance for the following reasons: ❖ circus animals were regulated by the state, local, and federal level circus animals were subject to unbelievable scrutiny ❖ abuse of animals was recognizable and some of the documentation on the internet about abuse was inaccurate, and they were federally licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture She said that she was a believer in animal welfare and animal welfare celebrates the bond and the interaction between animals and humans. She said that there were only a handful of communities who have passed this kind of ordinance. She said that she is here because she works with animals and she cares about her animals and this ordinance would prohibit her and her ' members from appearing in Orange County and providing something they are very proud of, which is live, safe, affordable family entertainment. She said that she could speak to some of the questions about contacting circuses and the permitting processes. Cam Cridlebaugh is a realtor in High Point, secretary of the Circus Fans Association of America for the North Carolina branch, a member of the Circus Historical Society, and has a small traveling circus that works with elephants. He said that his animals were not abused and were trained with the use of sugar cubes and marshmallows. This small traveling show has a capacity of 1,500, which means that the kids can get up close to the performers and kids and parents have a fantastic time. He said that this bill would be disastrous to the small traveling shows. He said that if this ordinance was passed, the first thing you know it will be against the law to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken, and you can forget about McDonald's.