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We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Animal Defenders of Westchester
P.O. Box 205
Yonkers, NY 10704

Action Alerts

Circus Meets with City Board of Legislators

On Monday, March 7 we had the second meeting with the Westchester County Board of Legislators 'Community Affairs Committee' regarding traveling animal acts on Westchester County property, with Mrs. Hanneford on speaker phone.

All told we had an excellent meeting.  By an amazing coincidence, Tom Rider was in Connecticut testifying, and was close enough to be able to attend our meeting as well.  (Most of you probably know, he is a former elephant handler who quit in disgust and now goes around the country speaking out).  

I had earlier in the day given a radio interview to WFUV (90.7 FM).  

At the meeting, while Mrs. Hanneford blabbered on and on about how much kids learn about animals from the circus, how clean their record is, etc, I placed before the three committee members each copies of Hanneford's UDSA infractions, a copy of the USDA decision against Hawthorne, terrible photos of elephant tie-downs and beatings (we had been told we couldn't show video at this meeting, the purpose of which was to get Hanneford's 'side') a copy of the Carson/Barnes DVD to each (a quote on the cover says "Don't just touch 'em - make 'em scream!") a concise list of the ARSENAL used to kill Tyke, etc.

Mrs. Hanneford didn't score too many points when she accused the Committee members of 'sitting behind their computers'; Lois Bronz, in particular, has a reputation of working 24/7 for constituents (this entire transcript will be on the web shortly, and I'll post it).  Bronz had previously also been apprised that Hanneford lied to Greenburgh recently, saying they no longer have exotics and could abide by the ordinance.

Our speakers were eloquent and extremely thorough. I think we can get this voted out of Committee.  The problem: this ain't Greenburgh, which had five voters.  There are SEVENTEEN legislators who will vote on this.  

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please contact the legislators listed below; I don't see any harm in sending identical info.  

WHAT TO SEND:

We have been told the other legislators need a serious education about animal-user circuses; the suggestion is to keep cover letters short; forward any and all info on animal-user circuses, including problems, lies they tell, venues that have legislation against animal-user circuses, anything about liability, cruelty, etc.  We will be providing hard-copy items to legislators as well:

WILLIAM RYAN, CHAIRPERSON: [email protected]   

JOSE ALVARADO (head of 'Community Affairs Committee'): [email protected]   

GEORGE OROS: [email protected]    

URSULA MOTTE: [email protected]   

ROBERT ASTORINO: [email protected]   

MICHAEL KAPLOWITZ: [email protected]   

MARTIN ROGOWSKY: [email protected]   

GEORGE LATIMER: [email protected]   

LOIS BRONZ: [email protected]   

RICHARD WISHNIE (CO-CHAIR): [email protected]   

VITO PINTO: [email protected]   

ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS: [email protected]   

BERNICE SPRECKMAN: [email protected]   

LOU MOSIELLO: [email protected]    

JAMES MAISANO: [email protected]    

THOMAS ABINANTO: [email protected]    

CLINTON YOUNG: [email protected]

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