Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 12/6/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During their meeting on Dec. 1, the Northampton City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of wild and exotic animals for performances and exhibitions for the purpose of entertainment.
According to the ordinance, which was presented in front of the council once before, “it shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, sponsor, exhibit or provide entertainment that includes live wild or exotic Animals on any public or private land within the city of Northampton, MA.”
“It’s been close to a two-years process working on it,” said City Council Vice President Karen Foster, during the Oct. 21 meeting, when the ordinance was first introduced. “An ordinance like this is making a statement that more communities that don’t allow traveling shows for wild and exotic animals…in their community, it starts to remove the market share and sends a message to acts who are using these.”
The city was inspired by Amherst, who created a bylaw in 2020 that officially banned shows and related exhibits featuring wild and exotic animals, creating a new bylaw.
The purpose of that bylaw was to protect the public from known hazards surrounding wild and exotic animals used in traveling shows and circuses while also protecting the animals from cruel and inhumane treatment-conditions.
The Northampton ordinance does not apply to an exhibition that “takes place at a non-mobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility, as long as the wild and exotic animal is not brought there for entertainment and exhibition.”
The ordinance also does not apply to demonstrations or exhibitions by a college or university for bona fide educational or research purposes, and not for amusement or entertainment purposes.
Foster said that she and City Council President Jim Nash diligently worked with fairground owners to help develop the language. Look Park, meanwhile, would not be affected by the ordinance since the animals there are for rehabilitation purposes.
Violators of this ordinance could face civil or criminal consequences, including the possibility of a $300-a-day fine.
DPW Director Donna LaScaleia also presented an amendment to the ciy’s stormwater management regulations, which can be viewed here:
https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/20304?fileID=175596. The amendment will be discussed in grater detail at the next Legislative Matters meeting on Dec. 12.