Milford Residents Want Circus Banned

Milford Mayor Ben Blake says the city is investigating animal abuse complaints related to the Cole Bros. Circus, which last month, amid some protest, set up in the parking lot at Milford’s Westfield Mall.

“We judge a society by how it treats its animals,” Blake said Monday during a Board of Aldermen meeting in which several residents called for the outright ban of the circus within city limits.

Lorrie Davies was one of five speakers to take the podium in protest of Cole Bros. Circus.

“You have the opportunity to introduce an ordinance that has teeth, one that bans all animal circuses,” she said during the public speaking portion of the meeting.

Citing online research, Davies argued that the circus has failed to meet federal guidelines for the care of animals used in exhibitions, as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

She also said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Cole Bros. Circus many times for “failure to provide veterinary care, adequate shelter from the elements, and proper food and water, as well as failure to handle animals in a manner that prevents trauma and harm and ensures public safety.”

Davies said the use of an instrument known as a bullhook to punish and control elephants is particularly inhumane. She said the “horrible treatment” starts when the elephants are taken from their mothers as babies.

Mayor Blake said the city’s ordinance committee is investigating the complaints and researching what other municipalities might have on the books.

He said the committee is also weighing the effects of an altogether ban of animal circuses versus a ban on some of the more controversial instruments alleged to have been used by the Cole Bros. Circus, like the bullhook Davies mentioned.

Davies, however, said anything less than a complete ban would be unenforceable.

“Will someone be there all hours to enforce a bullhook ban?” she asked.