Remember that little post about the Circus coming to town? Well, it appears some things have changed.From a reader regarding the "elephant walk":
"They changed the time to 4:45 a.m. on July 17th and 9:30 p.m.on July 22th. Seems they now have to get the animals into the arena by 6:00 a.m. or at least that is what she said. I actually heard that LAPD had a fear that there would be a ton of animal rights activists there so they intentionally made the time inconvenient."
So, as of the time of this posting, the elephants have done their walk (allegedly). Activists have been asking the City not to allow the walk or allow the circus because of the treatment of the animals. They will protest the walk, as they do often; but to complicate matters, some of the activists are known to be confrontational and militant. This poses a problem for controlling any protests of the walk, which are supposed to be occurring. (Did they? No news of them has been found yet.)
Adding fuel to the fire, this follows up to the Bansky exhibit of last year when the painting and display of Tai the elephant brought outcries from the community, and the Department of Animal Services said such exhibit of animals would not be allowed again. The LA Times quoted General Manager Ed Boks at the time saying:
Adding fuel to the fire, this follows up to the Bansky exhibit of last year when the painting and display of Tai the elephant brought outcries from the community, and the Department of Animal Services said such exhibit of animals would not be allowed again. The LA Times quoted General Manager Ed Boks at the time saying:
"'This situation is causing the department to rethink its permitting procedures so there will be more scrutiny, so permits will not be issued for such frivolous abuse of animals in the future."
They also quoted him saying he allowed the permits, but not proudly:
Boks found himself decrying the presence of the elephant in the exhibit even though his agency had issued the two permits necessary to have the elephant there - 'to my chagrin,' he said.
It's almost as if he issued them against his will. From a recent version of the Animal Services website, Boks & the Department are also referenced as being against these-types of activity:
"LA Animal Services is against cruelty or exploitation in any legal entertainment venue, event, or sporting activity. This includes but is not limited to circuses involving animals, rodeo, donkey basketball, dog racing and horse racing. We encourage people to attend non-exploitive forms of entertainment."
So, why was this walk allowed?
To make things even more interesting for the City and LAPD, the Animal Rights 2007 National Conference, "the world's largest and oldest animal rights conference," is being held in LA (at Westin LAX) at the same time as the elephant walk, so all the nation's top activists will be in town. Part of their program lists demonstrations being planned (but no mention of the elephant walk specifically).
So, look out at the end of the week when the Elephant Walk and the 2007 Animal Rights convention converge in Los Angeles.
Picture via about.com.
5 comments:
Ed Boks himself approved the permit for the circus and the elephant walk. He's a total hypocrite who talks about of both sides of his mouth. He doesn't care about the welfare of the animals, just his paycheck. If the Mayor told him to approve a baby elephant barbque, he would, "much to his chagrin."
Two weeks ago without getting any approval by the commission or council, he decided to start refusing animals into the shelter. He was desperately trying to improve his horrible euthanasia rate, i.e. fewer animals in, fewer to kill. He sent out a press release to this effect, and the activists and rescuers went crazy. When the shelter refuses animals, people just dump them on the street to die. Boks then changed the policy to allow people to surrender only certain animals during certain times.Finally, he told city council on June 20 that he never refuses any animal at any time. He accepts them all the time. He's never refused an animal. He bold faced lied to City Council.
Two days ago this sign was posted on the shelter doors saying they are not accepting owned animals after normal hours or on the weekends. There were stray dogs running in the street and cats hiding in the parking lot. shelter not taking in animals
This guy should not be the director of Animal Services.
Director of CITY dog pound = politician. He is paid to lie to the public. He will do whatever he can to make himself and the mayor look good, or at least he'll try.
Ringling Bros. Circus Not Welcome in Los Angeles
LCA to Protest Early Morning Circus Animal "Walk of Shame"
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - July 16, 2007) - Last Chance for Animals (LCA) will lead the protest against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus "Walk of Shame." Ringling Bros. will be unloading their transport trains and walking the circus animals to the Staples Center from the corner of Alameda and 25th Street in Los Angeles at 4:00 AM, Tuesday morning.
"Ringling Bros. is not welcome in Los Angeles. If the politicians won't do anything to stop this animal cruelty, we will. LCA is disgusted with the politics at the expense of the animals. We hold the politicians personally responsible for the animal abuse that commonly occurs at the Ringling Bros. Circus. The U.S.D.A. cites Ringling Bros constantly for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. It is time that the city of Los Angeles bans animal circuses," said Chris DeRose, LCA President and Founder. "It is politics as usual in L.A. with animal suffering as usual."
What: Walk of Shame - Ringling Bros unloads the transport trains and
walks the circus animals to the Staples Center.
When: Tuesday, July 17th, 4:00 AM
Where: Clement Junction
Corner of E. 25th Street and So. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90058
Who: LCA President and Founder Chris DeRose
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national animal rights organization based in Los Angeles, has been active for more than two decades. Founded and led by animal expert, author, and actor, Chris DeRose. LCA fights for the rights of animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty. For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org.
I'm no fan of the circus, but don't all the activists insist that elephants be allowed to walk three or four miles a day? Shouldn't they be allowed to have some excercise? Or should they be cooped up until the show begins? Just asking.
activists don't want elephants in circuses. that's the point, not the actual physical walk. we're all for elephants walking in the wild or at least in a huge sanctuary just not on a cement city street on the way to be prodded with bull hooks to perform for our amusement
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