----- Original Message -----
From: Animal Advocates Society of B.C.
To: aasbc
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 2:21 PM
Subject: Mayor Drummond and Council: Re: Animals in Performance in Burnaby

August 23, 2002

Mayor Douglas Drummond and Council,
The City of Burnaby
postmaster@city.burnaby.bc.ca

Re: Animals in Performance bylaw in Burnaby compared to the North Vancouver District bylaw: ( see both attached below):

Dear Mayor Drummond and Councillors,

Animal Advocates Society was contacted by several concerned residents of Burnaby at the time that Brentwood Mall, on the weekend of August 3rd to 5th, permitted the commercial use (poorly disguised as educational use), of a tiger and a lynx. (link to photos below)
Burnaby's Animal in Performance bylaw is not the best example of a bylaw to prevent the exploitation of animals in performance. It is unnecessarily complicated by the fact that it lists prohibited species which allows any species not named to be used; it lists most species by their scientific name making it difficult for most people to understand; it says wild animals are not permitted to be used, but any animal raised and domesticated is, per se, "not wild"; and it permits petting zoos.

The Animals in Performance bylaw adopted by the District of North Vancouver is simple and comprehensive in comparison. It says no animals can be used in any performance, with a very few exceptions, those being: Pet shows (dog and cat breeders mainly), Horse shows (the District has had a stable licensed to operate for decades) and the District's own (well-run) Maplewood Farm. Simple, clean, uncomplicated and should, we believe, be the bylaw adopted by all BC municipalities.

We request that you replace your current bylaw with the District of North Vancouver's bylaw. Please put this matter on your Council agenda and contact us with the date when it will appear before council, within the time required for us to request to speak at the council meeting.

We have attached (below) copies of both Burnaby's and the District of North Vancouver's "Animals in Performance" bylaws.

Judy Stone
President, Animal Advocates Society of BC

Attachment 1

BURNABY ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW 1991. BYLAW 9848

6A.(1) No person shall operate or carry on a circus exhibition, show or any other performance where a wild animal, including but not limited to an animal listed in Schedule E of this Bylaw, is used or appears.

(2) No person shall operate or carry on a pony ride or petting zoo unless he or she

(a) has provided to the Chief License Inspector a letter dated no more than three months earlier than the day of the proposed performance signed by a member in good standing of the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association certifying that the ponies or other animals are in good health, and

(b) has been issued a permit by the Chief License Inspector.

SCHEDULE "E"

The following list of animals includes all such animals whether wild or captive bred and also includes all their hybrids with domestic species. The words in parentheses are only examples of a particular group and are not to be construed as limiting the generality of the group.

all non-human Primates (such as gorillas and monkeys)
all Felids, except the domestic cat
all Canids, except the domestic dog
all Ursids (bears)
Elephants
all Pinnipeds (such as seals, fur seals and walruses)
all Crocodilians (such as alligators and crocodiles)
all Marsupials (such as kangaroos and opossums)
all Snakes
all Artiodactylus Ungulates, except domestic goats, sheep, pigs and cattle
all Perissodactylus Ungulates, except the domestic horse, mule and ass
Hyaenas $.27 per pound $.27 per pound
all Birds, except domestic pigeons and poultry
all Mustelids (such as raccoons and coatis)
all Edentates (such as anteaters, sloths and armadillos)
all Viverrids (such as mongooses, civets and genets)

Attachment 2
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER
CONSOLIDATION OF BYLAW 6423 AS AT FEBRUARY 24, 1992
UP TO AND INCLUDING BYLAW 6434

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

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