On Thursday, February 12th, Mayor Richard Bonde of Willowick, OH vetoed the ban on the use of bullhooks on circus animals that was passed by the Willowick City Council. This was the first time in 37 years that the mayor of Willowick has used veto power to override the decision of city council. 

The Willowick bullhook ban would play a critical role in ending animal abuse in Willowick, which the City Council recognized and supported. Yet the mayor, who has publicly belittled efforts to pass such an ordinance, vetoed this important legislation stating that "I am not confident that [the City Council] understood the legal process." He went on to question whether the councilmen understood the legislation, despite the fact that there had been numerous public meetings about it, and several individual meetings with the councilmen by public supporters of the ordinance.

On the day the veto letter was handed through, concerned Willowick residents reached out to the City Council and found that, in fact, the members of the council who had voted yes completely understood that they had voted yes for the ban. One member even expressed disappointment in not voting yes to a full ban on the use of wild animals in entertainment, which had also been considered.

Please join the people of Willowick in expressing their disappointment in Mayor Bonde for undermining his council and the will of the people. Not only does he do an injustice toward the animals who suffer continually for the sake of "entertainment", but he has embarrassed the city of Willowick. While other cities like Los Angeles and Oakland, California and Miami Beach, FL have recently passed similar legislation, Bonde has actively campaigned against it, and then turned on the will of the people.

At this juncture the Willowick bullhook ban goes up for another vote, yet needs an additional councilman to vote yes in order to pass. We encourage the Willowick council to ban the practice of abusing animals for entertainment, and ask that Mayor Bonde do what he should have done in the first place...publicly support the ban and respect the decision of his council.