Mayor Melissa Blake and the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo create a new bylaw that prohibits performances where any animal is required to perform tricks, fight or participate in performances for the amusement or entertainment of an audience.

Regardless of where we all stand on animal rights, there is one point all of the people who have signed this petition agree on, the current rules don't adequately protect animals in the entertainment industry.

Alberta's Animal Protection Act says "No person shall cause or permit an animal ... to be or to continue to be in distress.", but it does not apply if, among other things, "the distress results from generally accepted practices of animal care, management, husbandry"

This means there is no prohibition in Alberta against the use of whips, chains, and bull hooks on entertainment animals, as well as spurs, ropes and flank straps in the case of rodeo animals. Several of the circus-goers who signed the petition on their way out commented to us that they had in fact seen the bull hooks in use at this circus.

In contrast, the RMWB's Animal Control Bylaw says: "No person shall tease, torment, annoy, abuse or injure any animal..." which I assume would not include such practices. Unfortunately, it does not apply to travelling animal acts that come here.