Animal Hero Kids Inc., a nonprofit that encourages and recognizes youth who help animals, needs your help! Wild and exotic animals exploited for profit in the entertainment industry live a miserable existence in captivity away from their natural homes and families. Kids who care about animals are upset about this and are speaking out. Animals in the entertainment industry endure long hours of cruel confinement in extreme weather conditions during transport and while on display at events. The noise and large crowds at events causes stress on the animals. Downtown Debauchery bar in Melbourne, Florida on Sept. 27, 2014, rented a caged lion, monkey and boa constrictor from Xtreme Entertainment of Sorrento, Florida. Xtreme Entertainment rents out various species of wild and exotic animals for profit. Activists witnessed the caged lion confined to the back of a trailer for at least 90 minutes in 90 degree temperatures before the lion was loaded into a smoky, noisy bar for a "Jungle Party." The lion was cruelly confined to a cage for more than 7 hours inside the bar and several hours during transport. Activists witnessed the caged lion lying in what appeared and smelled like his own urine.  Animal Hero Kids Inc. says it's long overdue for the Melbourne City Council to ban wild and exotic animal displays to protect people and animals. Mixing wild animals with people is a public safety risk and liability for city taxpayers. The City Council would be joining other compassionate, humane Florida cities, such as Lauderdale Lakes, Hollywood and Pompano Beach, which have wild and exotic animal display bans in place.  

Call/email the Melbourne City Council and City Manager 

Phone numbers:  

Mayor Kathy Meehan, (321) 984-7588, email: cityhall@melbourneflorida.org 

Vice Mayor Greg Jones: (321) 242-3444, email: gregjones@melbourneflorida.org

Councilman Mike Nowlin, (321) 254-1886, email: cityhall@melbourneflorida.org 

Councilwoman Betty Moore, (321) 205-3389, email: cityhall@melbourneflorida.org

Councilwoman Yvonne Minus: (321) 724-9193, email: cityhall@melbourneflorida.org

Councilman John Thomas: (321) 508-6738, email: johnthomas@melbourneflorida.org

Councilwoman Molly Tasker: (321) 608-7220, email: cityhall@melbourneflorida.org

City Manager Michael McNees: (321) 608-7200, email: citymanager@melbourneflorida.org