ANIMAL ADVOCATES SOCIETY OF BC - ZOOS - SIBERIAN MAGIC IN THE MALLS

August 2, 2002 - AAS received three phone calls from very upset people who witnessed the exploitation of this tiger and a lynx at Burnaby's Brentwood Mall. We grabbed our camera and went immediately to the mall to verify what we had been told: that a lynx and a tiger were in cages barely larger than themselves for commercial purposes: Kim Carlton, the owner, charges $30 to have pictures taken with the tiger (of children too).

Because one of our contacts had previously been threatened the day before with having her ***camera and ***face punched, and mall security guards had been screamed at by Carlton to do something about the ***animal activists as they had promised, we had to be very circumspect and we were unable to get photos of the lynx.

The lynx was sadder than the tiger, if possible - in a tiny cage, three paces, turn, three paces, turn, over and over and over. It's eyes were huge and it was frantic looking as though it was being driven mad by the crowds.

According to a story in the Vancouver Sun, August 7/02, Carlton keeps the tiger confined under a deck on a city lot in Abbotsford. Abbotsford has no bylaw to prevent this but is considering one.

Burnaby has an "exotics" bylaw, the same one that most lower mainland and a few other BC municipalities have, that is so flawed that it ludicrous. The bylaw adopted by the District of North Vancouver is much superior, simpler, yet more comprehensive.

The flawed bylaws have long lists of prohibited performances and animals (which allows there to be many inadvertently left off); the District of North Vancouver's is a short list of permitted performances and animals; it says where and what is allowed; much simpler and yet more comprehensive. Anything not on the list of exceptions is not allowed. Period.

Please write the City of Burnaby and request it to replace its bad bylaw with the good bylaw that is in the District of North Vancouver.

(Thanks to Martine Ward for her photos and to Yves, Barb and Dodi for helping AAS to get its photos.)

Here is our letter to the City of Burnaby:

August 23, 2002

Mayor Douglas Drummond and Council,
The City of Burnaby

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)

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 owners and 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
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, 
traveling 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

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

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