On April 14, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors heard the first reading of an ordinance (No. 150919) to ban any performances with wild or exotic animals for public entertainment or amusement.  The ordinance will now get scheduled for a second (final) reading and vote, which may happen as soon as their next meeting on April 21.  The ordinance would only need favorable votes from six out of the eleven Board members for passage, and would become effective 30 days after enactment.

If passed, this ordinance would ban the use of wild and exotic animals in any performance within the City of San Francisco Educational activities and accredited zoo, sanctuary, and museum activities would be exempted. The ordinance defines “exotic animals” as any non-domesticated animal, including (but not limited to) elephants, zebras, camels, primates, large cats, bears, and large reptiles.  “Performance” is defined as “any public showing, presentation, display, exposition, fair, act, circus, ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, photographic opportunity, exhibition, or similar undertaking in which animals are required to perform tricks, fight, or participate as accompaniments for the entertainment, amusement, or benefit of an audience.” 

Please take a moment to contact the members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and express your opposition to Ordinance No. 150919 with a short e-mail, phone call, fax, or letter, and encourage your friends and family to do the same – especially those who live in the San Francisco area or who have been to any sort of animal exhibit in the city.  Contact information for the Board members is listed below.  Sample talking points for your correspondence are also included at the end of this alert, but please use your own words and your own experiences as a supporter of exotic animal displays/performances to politely express your opposition to this ordinance.

Thank you!

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

General email for all Board members: Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org 

Website with agenda and meeting information: http://www.sfbos.org/ 

Mailing Address:

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

City Hall, Room 244

San Francisco, Ca.  94102-4689

Roster of members (11 total):

John Avalos

(415) 554-6975 - Voice

(415) 554-6979 - Fax

John.Avalos@sfgov.org

London Breed

(415) 554-7630 - Voice

(415) 554-7634 - Fax

London.Breed@sfgov.org

David Campos

(415) 554-5144 - voice

(415) 554-6255 - fax

David.Campos@sfgov.org           

Julie Christensen 2015

(415) 554-7450 - Voice

(415) 554-7454

Julie.Christensen@sfgov.org

Malia Cohen

(415) 554-7670 - Voice

(415) 554-7674 - Fax

Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org              

Mark Farrell

(415) 554-7752 - Voice

(415) 554-7843 - Fax

Mark.Farrell@sfgov.org

Jane Kim

(415) 554-7970 - Voice

(415) 554-7974 - Fax

Jane.Kim@sfgov.org     

Eric Mar

(415) 554-7410 - Voice

(415) 554-7415 - Fax

Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org

Katy Tang

(415) 554-7460 - Voice

(415) 554-7432 - Fax

Katy.Tang@sfgov.org    

Scott Wiener

(415) 554-6968 - Voice

(415) 554-6909 - Fax

Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org

Norman Yee

(415) 554-6516 - Voice

(415) 554-6546 - Fax

Norman.Yee@sfgov.org              

Sample Talking Points

The following are suggestions for your correspondence in San Francisco, but please use your own words, and you do not need to include every bullet point.  Please keep all correspondence respectful.

·         Politely tell the Board of Supervisors that you are OPPOSED to Ordinance No. 150919, and any measure that would prevent circuses and other exotic animal exhibitors from visiting San Francisco.

·         Circus animals and other performing animals are well cared for and generally are healthier and live longer than their counterparts in zoos.

·         True animal experts know that a safe and secure environment is the only acceptable and successful method of training and handling any animal, including exotic and performing animals.

·         If any animal is being mistreated in any environment, then the right answer is to enforce existing laws and regulations to punish bad actors, as opposed to punishing an entire industry and the public who enjoy exotic animal displays.

·         Proponents of performing animal bans mischaracterize or misunderstand the facts about the training and handling of performing animals. Most of the organizations that advocate such bans do so as part of a larger, animal rights agenda which opposes all or most human interaction with animals.

Thank you!