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Date: 10/25/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During a meeting on Oct. 21, the Northampton City Council unanimously referred an ordinance prohibiting the use of wild and exotic animals for performances and exhibitions for the purpose of entertainment to Legislative Matters for further deliberation before returning to the full council.
The idea behind this ordinance is to protect wild and exotic animals from cruel and inhumane treatment for entertainment purposes.
According to the ordinance presented to the council, “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.”
“It’s been close to a two-years process working on it,” said Council Vice President Karen Foster. “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.”
Foster mentioned that Northampton is trying to follow the footsteps of 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. Northampton would like to emulate it.
The proposed ordinance by Northampton would not apply to any wildlife sanctuary where no commercial trade in animals occurs, no propagation of animals occurs in the facility, and no animals are taken from the sanctuary for exhibition.
The ordinance would also 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.
Lastly, the ordinance would not apply to any 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 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.
“I think it’s really clear…that traveling with wild and exotic animals for entertainment leads to cruel and inhumane treatment,” said Foster. “The purpose of this is for Northampton to be able to make a statement and also to ensure that we’re a community where those acts are not coming for entertainment purposes.”
“Wild animals are not like domesticated animals,” said Nash. “Their compliance in the entertainment we’re describing is not given willingly or humanely. It’s time to draw a line…I think this is kind of a no-brainer for where we are as a city.”
The next Legislative Matters meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, according to the city website.