Hi All,

I just wanted to reach out to give you an update on how this campaign is going. In just THREE days, we’ve surpassed 529 signatures on our petition! Thank you so much for your support!

And there's been another promising development. On Tuesday evening, Cait Darfler attended the Ulysses Town Board meeting to encourage them to take steps to prohibit exotic animals shows from visiting our community. It certainly helped that the petition had garnered over 300 signatures by that time and her message was well received. Here's Cait's report from the meeting: 

I, Cait Darfler, spoke during Privilege of the Floor at the Ulysses Town Board Meeting on Tuesday, July 13th 2021.

The Town Board had seen the petition earlier in the day, but did not know that it had received 300 signatures in less than 12 hours. A number of the Board members were immediately supportive of finding a way to end this type of "entertainment". They noted that there are logistical and legal challenges that the Town will face but they are willing to work on it. I gave them a copy of an ordinance from Portland ME as an example law to prohibit Wild and Exotic Animal shows. I also gave them a model resolution to send to the Trumansburg Fair Board. They realized that they have neglected to maintain their liaisonship with the Fair Board and want to re-establish communication. Supervisor Zahler said that she would get advice from the Town lawyer and they would discuss this issue more in an upcoming meeting. 

During the Town Board's discussion,  Anne Koreman, the Tompkins County Legislative Representation for Ulysses also said she supports Ulysses finding a way to prohibit traveling exotic animal shows of all types. 

Here's the powerful statement that Cait shared with the Board:

I was dismayed to find out that even after years of letters and emails to the Trumansburg Fair Board, that they have continued to partner with exotic animal shows. This year brings a Bengal tiger show.

The life of a traveling circus tiger is vastly different than that of one in a humane zoo (and they are NOT, all, humane) and still even vastly different than a tiger in the wild.

Training a tiger to do tricks and perform in the show often requires them to be physically beaten to be broken. Those trainers who tout a “gentle” approach will use food or water as a reward, which leads the animal to choose between starvation and dehydration or following their master’s orders. 

Traveling circus tigers spend hours upon hours for many days in small cages. This physical restriction has both a physical and mental effect on the animals. Head bobbing, pacing and over grooming all signs of distress. A wild tiger has a territory that can span 40 sq miles. Whereas the traveling cages on average are 4-5 ft wide and 8 ft long.

Wild tigers are often solitary animals, except during mating season. And partnering with another tiger is a choice. However traveling circuses force tigers to interact with each other, commonly resulting in higher levels of aggression.

It’s time to stop using exotic animals as entertainment. A change.org petition that was started by a community member this morning already has over 300 signatures. Action on this item has broad support within the community.

I respectfully, ask the Ulysses Town Board to look at the ways to limit, or better yet, prohibit this type of activity from happening in the town. There is a model ordinance from Portland ME that could be used to create a Wild and Exotic Animal Ordinance for the town. Additionally, there is a model resolution urging the Fair Board to establish a policy prohibiting the use of wild animals at the Trumansburg Fair. 

Please don’t allow these animals to be used as entertainment in Ulysses.

A BIG thank you to Cait for attending the meeting and sharing this update! We're also going to receive some coverage in Tompkins Weekly in the coming weeks, as a reporter reached out to ask some questions about the petition. Together we're showing the Trumansburg Fair Board that the exploitation of wild animals should not be included in the ticket price of attending the fair. 

In the meantime, keep sharing the link to get more signatures: https://www.change.org/p/trumansburg-fair-board-stop-exploiting-wild-animals-at-the-trumansburg-community-fair

In case you know someone who needs some more convincing, here's a link to an informational article entitled How Life for a Circus Tiger Compares to Life of a Wild Tiger: Read Article

Thanks so much for your support!

Best,
Alexis