Many Lower Mainland municipalities adopted a bylaw to prevent this exploitation. Burnaby actually had a bylaw in place but still the Mall hired this man. The City of Burnaby then made sure that mall owners were made aware of the bylaw and there has been no recurrence.

The best version of the bylaw is the one adopted by the District of North Vancouver at the urging of Lifeforce founder, Peter Hamilton. It is elegantly simple because it bans the use of all animals for performance and then names a few performances that are excepted, the ones that society still does not see as exploitive such as dog and cat breeding shows and horse shows and the District's pride and joy, Maplewood Farm. But it does not name any speicies of animals that are banned or excepted.

The bylaw adopted in other Lower Mainland municipalities at the urging of another group is the one in Burnaby and is seriously flawed as it says only certain species on a list are banned from being used in performance, but unnamed species can still be used. Be sure to point out to your Mayor and Council that the District of North Vancouver bylaw cannot be outdated and is vastly superior to the bylaw adopted in other municipalities.

CONSOLIDATION OF BYLAW 6423 AS AT FEBRUARY 24, 1992
UP TO AND INCLUDING BYLAW 6434
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER

BYLAW 6423

A bylaw to prohibit performances involving animals pursuant to

sections 527 (a) and 932(r) of the Municipal Act, 1979 R.S.B.C. C.290

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The Council for The Corporation of the District of North Vancouver

enacts the following:

TITLE

1. This bylaw may be cited as "ANIMAL PERFORMANCE BYLAW".

DEFINITION

2. In this bylaw,

"Animal" means a mammal, bird or reptile but does not include man.(6434)

"Performance" includes circus, public show, exhibition, carnival,
travelling petting zoo, rodeo and dog race.

3.No person may conduct, operate or carry on a Performance in which an
Animal performs, fights or participates for the amusement or entertainment
of an audience, except that a Performance which only involves dogs and/or
horses or farm animals on a farm or only shows an Animal in agricultural
fairs or pet shows is permitted.

4.No person may conduct, operate or carry on a Performance which exploits
an Animal such that it is being used or treated in an inhumane manner for
profit or advantage.

5.No person may cause cruelty to an Animal respecting a Performance.

6.If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any section of this Bylaw
to be invalid, that section shall be severed from this Bylaw such that the
remaining sections of this Bylaw shall continue to be valid.

Amended by: 6434