Public Facilities District Board Approves Circus Animal Moratorium
The six-month moratorium will give the board more time to consider the path forward when it comes to allowing practices some decry as inhumane
In a win for regional animal welfare advocates, the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District in a four-to-one vote Thursday passed a six-month moratorium against having circus-like events featuring live animals. The organization, commonly known as the PFD board, is in charge of overseeing the Town Toyota Center and is made up of representatives from Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Cashmere, Entiat, Waterville, Chelan, Rock Island, Chelan and Douglas counties.
The topic was brought up by a group of about 30 concerned citizens after the last Jordan World Circus event at the TTC in March and April of this year. And for the last three PFD meetings members of that grassroots group have attended and spoken out against the circus and what they see as the inhumane treatment of the animals involved.
One of the organizers of that group is Kris Cameron, a retired teacher, Rotarian and volunteer who went to the show in Spring 2023.
“I attended a Jordan Circus performance at the TTC last spring. It was heartbreaking to witness the broken spirits of the animals they were using to give "rides," and the unnatural "‘tricks’ they were being forced to perform under threat of a whip or a bullhook,” she said. “When I saw the appalling conditions in which the animals were transported and held behind the scenes, it compelled me to do something to end their suffering. I've since learned that this is the miserable life lived by all animals used in circuses it has only galvanized my resolve to do what I can to help end this cruel practice.”
The six-month moratorium will not bar the Jordan World Circus from coming to the TTC to perform in late March and early April as usual, but it will prohibit them from bringing animals to the facility, new PFD board chair and East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford said. This will give the board time to discuss the matter further and come up with more comprehensive regulatory language when it comes to circus-type events featuring animal acts or rides.
Any additional regulations the PFD enacts will only be enforced at the TTC, and Crawford thinks this is an issue better addressed by the city.
“My hope is that the City of Wenatchee will consider passing an ordinance not allowing it within city limits,” she said.
Crawford said Jordan World Circus does a fabulous job putting on a show, the performers are outstanding and the handlers care for the animals, but having exotic animals like Asian elephants and camels on hand to perform and be ridden by members of the public is not a good “cultural fit” for our region.
“I think culturally it’s just sad that we get enjoyment out of wild animals performing for our pleasure, and traveling such long distances and being in confined spaces – there’s just something ultimately wrong about that,” she said.
She said it “certainly isn’t a well-regulated” affair and a lot can slip through the cracks when you have a traveling circus that is hauling large non-native species across the country to perform.
“You don’t really know if they’re healthy. You don’t really know what their mental state is, and that’s not only bad for the animals but it’s bad for us as a community because you just never know when one may turn or be fed up or tired or frustrated or sick,” she said.
While researching the current regulations an organization wanting to put on a circus act featuring exotic animals in Wenatchee needs to have, Wenatchee resident Matthew Wisen reached out to the city and asked about permits.
What he found out was surprising. No have been issued for a circus, according to Ruth Traxler with the City of Wenatchee.
“I've talked with Parks and Recreation, the Police Department, and the Building Division. To the best of their knowledge, no permit has ever been issued for the possession of specific animals for a circus or zoo event in the City,” she wrote. “The Building Division does review and permit the set up for events at the Town Toyota Center, but this is more related to fire codes for tents and such. You can request additional information from Chris Hanson, Building Plans Examiner.”
I called Hanson and left a message on Friday. When I hear back I will update this piece.
I also asked Crawford which entity is responsible for getting a permit to have a circus featuring animals like elephants and camels. Is that on the TTC, or the Jordan World Circus? She said that’s a great question.
So I reached out to Mark Miller, the general manager of the TTC, and asked him these questions:
“Hi Mark,
I see that the PFD board voted to approve a moratorium on animals at the TTC for six months, which will mean the Jordan World Circus will not be able to bring their animals in March. Does that mean the circus will be canceled?
What were the attendance numbers for 2022, 2021 and the year before the pandemic?
According to the city of Wenatchee a permit ‘has never been issued for the possession of specific animals for a circus or zoo event in the city’ to Jordan World Circus. Is that something the TTC applies for and secures for that event every year?”
I also reached out to Randy Agnew, the mayor of Rock Island and the one board member making up the quorum that day who voted against the moratorium.
“Hi Mr. Agnew,
I noticed you voted against the performing animal moratorium at the TTC at the PDF meeting yesterday and I wanted to ask why?
Did you know that the city of Wenatchee ‘has never been issued for the possession of specific animals for a circus or zoo event in the city’ according to city officials from the police department, parks and rec, and the building division?
Whose responsibility is it to check to make sure these Jordan World Circus people have the proper permits? Is that the responsibility of the board, or the executive director of the TTC, or someone else? And who would be liable if injury or death were to occur related to unpermitted livestock being used for entertainment purposes at the TTC?”
I asked Miller about the attendance for past years because he told the board they have sold out the circus in past years.
If and when I hear back from Miller and Agnew I will update this piece.
Crawford said she doesn’t expect the board to revisit this issue until February or March 2024. In the meantime, Cameron, Wisen, and the other folks in their grassroots group plan to start a petition and gather signatures to go back to the board with evidence that many in the community share their concerns.
You can watch a video clip of folks riding the elephants at the TTC earlier this year here.
Times are changing as we become more aware of the feelings and behaviors we express toward other human beings and living things. Some may call it "woke," but IMHO it's just another example of civilized humanity evolving that lizard brain part of us.
Thankyou for following up and asking the questions obviously assumed that others are asking and dealing with (when no one is). Kudos to the group bringing this forward. I would love to read a followup on how often and where in the nation these animal circuses are still welcome.