OHS Position Statement: Animals in the Entertainment Industry
The Ottawa Humane Society is opposed to the use of any animal in entertainment acts and displays that cause physical or psychological harm or where the animal lacks appropriate socialization. These acts include but are not limited to, circuses, rodeos, racing, and fighting.
The OHS considers the following to be inhumane in any circumstance:
- the use of abusive, cruel or stressful training techniques, devices or agents to cause animals to perform
- the administration of any drug for non-therapeutic purposes in order to alter the performance or behaviour of animals
- roping other than for purposes of husbandry care and veterinary treatment
- forcing any animal to pull weights for competition
- games involving chasing and/or catching an animal
- events where betting or prize money is tied to an animal’s performance
The OHS supports activities that fulfill animals' physical, psychological and social needs.
The OHS recognizes that the use of animals in entertainment is a legal activity and believes that at a minimum, only domestic animals must be used for such activities and, when not performing, must be provided with an environment that fulfills physical, psychological and social needs.
The OHS supports the humane relocation to an appropriate environment unwanted animals used in entertainment.
To read more about this issue, read:
In 2002, the Ottawa Humane Society and others lobbied Ottawa City Councillors to include the banning of exotic animal entertainment in its new Animal Care and Control Bylaw, citing both human health and safety and animal welfare concerns. The OHS argued that using wild animals in this manner was dangerous and highlighted incidents across North America. It also argued that the training methods and means and frequency of travel is inherently cruel. It pointed to the myths around the educational value of these shows and the link between the illegal trade in wildlife and this industry.
What it achieved was a licensing system, whereby animal circuses and the like would have submit a variety of documents to obtain a licence to bring elephants, tigers, and other wild animals to the City. The City agreed to license cruelty. While this has virtually eliminated one-off events in bars and clubs that were among the worst "hosts" it has little effect on the larger circuses and other animal shows.
The OHS believes that the time for this kind of entertainment has passed. This has been recognized by jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.
New Position Statement approved by the OHS Board of Directors on March 27, 2007
Replaces and expands on the former Animals in Entertainment and Display Position Statement
