historic Vancouver declaration opposes cruelty
Date: August 11, 2006
Groups celebrate with hope the 23rd anniversary of world’s first Animal Rights Day
(Vancouver) The timing for the 23 rd Annual Animal Rights Day celebration couldn’t be better as the City of Vancouver recently banned rodeos and is now researching a possible exotic pets bylaw. The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) and local animal protection groups hope to share their optimism with the public at the celebration taking place tomorrow, Saturday August 12 th, on the Robson Street side of the Vancouver Art Gallery from 11 am to 5 pm.
“Vancouver has made some progressive changes towards protecting animals,” says Joanne Chang, a director for VHS, “but sadly, it is still perfectly legal in Vancouver to keep a tiger or hippo in your basement. This is very troubling to us, both from an animal welfare perspective and a human safety concern. We hope council will continue to take this seriously. Exotic pets should be banned.”
In 1983, then mayor Mike Harcourt officially declared the first Animal Rights day in Vancouver. In 1992 Vancouver banned animal circuses, and earlier this year, Vancouver introduced dog care standards and enacted a ban on certain rodeo activities. VHS has been asking the city for spay/neuter bylaws for pets, prohibition or restriction of exotic animals sale and ownership, and pet store regulation.
Our goal with this event is to create a positive atmosphere with information for the public on the simple things each one of us can do to help animals,” continued Chang. “From choosing cruelty-free products to those from more humanely raised animals, we want to create a celebratory atmosphere that is at the same time educational. We can all make a difference. It really comes down to education and choices.
