Alameda County Rejects Proposed Ban on Exotic Animal Acts

Action for Animals had been pushing for Alameda County to ban wild and exotic animal acts on the premises of the Alameda County Fairgrounds and unincorporated areas of the county. But the county’s Fair Liaison Committee rejected voted to reject the proposal, finding that the Fairgrounds Association’s policies and practices toward exotic animal shows were satisfactory.

About 40 people turned out for a meeting of the two-member Fair Liaison Committee to debate the proposed ban.

Actin for Animals’ leader Eric Mills told the committee that the presence of exotic animal acts involving elephants and tigers posted health and safety risk to fairgoers as well as the animals themselves.

But Tim Koopman, president of the Alameda County Fair Association’s board of directors, said that the fairgrounds’ animal welfare policies were effective and adequate. Koopman told the committee,

We take price in how we handle domestic and feral animals. I think we’re doing the right job.

After the committee announced it had rejected the proposal, Mills told the Contra Costa Times,

I’m going home to take a shower. I feel dirty.

Why didn’t he think of that before the meeting?

Source:

Panel disallows exotic-animal ban. Chris Metinko, Contra Costa Times, May 19, 2004.

Eric Mills Sues First, Establishes Facts Later

Action for Animals activist Eric Mills sued four California school districts, including the Alameda Unified School District, alleging that it was illegal of them to have sent students to October’s Grand National Rodeo at San Francisco’s Cow Palace.

Mills’ lawsuit contends that such field trips violate state laws that prohibit schools from encouraging the inhumane treatment of animals.

Among other problems with his lawsuit, it turns out that the Alameda Unified School District did not send students to the rodeo in question.

Ah, nothing like an animal rights activist making sure he’s got his facts straight before rushing in.

Source:

Rodeo case eyes Island schools that weren’t there. Susan McDonough, Alameda Times, December 20, 2002.